Capt. 'Sully' heading to CBS News

The pilot who landed a disabled jetliner safely on the Hudson River in New York City will be a contributor to CBS News, the network said Thursday.

Former U.S. Airways pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger has been hired as an aviation and safety expert for CBS. He will contribute to broadcasts "across the news division," CBS News Chairman Jeff Fager said.

"Sully is an American treasure and it is a real thrill to have him on our team at CBS News,” Fager said in a statement. “I am a huge fan of Sully’s. He is a remarkable person who has a great ability to turn his significant experience into useful insights. He will help our viewers better understand the stories involving safety and air travel that seem to pop up all of the time.”

CBS President David Rhodes agreed.

“Sully is a genuine hero — everyone at CBS News is excited to have him as a colleague,” Rhodes said. “He wants to share his insights not only on aviation, but on a whole range of safety and leadership issues that confront us each day.”

For his part, Sullenberger said he was "eager to contribute to an organization I have long respected for its award-winning reputation of superior reporting.”

Sullenberger has been in the national spotlight recently since his daring 2009 emergency landing. This spring, he lobbied against an amendment to the House appropriations bill for the Federal Aviation Administration.