Miracle on the Hudson pilot returns to old cockpit

The Miracle On The Hudson Flight 1549 is on exhibit at Carolinas Aviation Museum in Charlotte. — CBS News

On Nov. 18, 2011, CBS News visited the Carolinas Aviation Museum in Charlotte, where the Miracle On The Hudson Flight 1549 is on exhibit.

Retired Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger was in Charlotte recently and went to visit his old plane.

It was Sullenberger's first time in that cockpit since landing the plane safely in the Hudson River. "It did its job," he said of the cockpit. — CBS News

It was Sullenberger's first time in that cockpit since landing the plane safely in the Hudson River. Even in the captain's chair, he was as stoic this time as he was last - because, he says, this plane just shows how much safer equipment and procedures are today. "It did its job," he said of the cockpit.

For Sullenberger, being in the plane was whole different kind of nostalgia - although not in a bad way. <p></p> "It just makes me think how well the evacuation went and we got everybody out of each of these seats." — CBS News

For Sullenberger, being in the plane was whole different kind of nostalgia - although not in a bad way. "It just makes me think how well the evacuation went and we got everybody out of each of these seats."

Here is what the underbelly of Flight 1549 looks like today.

Authorities arrive on the scene of a US Airways Airbus 320 aircraft that went down in the Hudson River in New York, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009. The pilot ditched his disabled jetliner into the frigid Hudson River on Thursday afternoon after a collision with a flock of birds apparently knocked out both engines, but rescuers pulled all 155 people on board into boats as the plane sank, authorities say.

Passengers in an inflatable raft move away from the US Airways Airbus 320 aircraft that went down in the Hudson River in New York, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009. Flight 1549 had just taken off from LaGuardia Airport en route to Charlotte, N.C., when the crash occurred in the river near 48th Street in midtown Manhattan.

Passengers in an inflatable raft, center, move away from a US Airways Airbus 320 aircraft that went down in the Hudson River as a ferry boat floats nearby in New York, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009. The plane was submerged in the icy waters up to the windows when rescuers in Coast Guard vessels and ferry boats arrived, opened the door and pulled passengers in yellow life vests from the aircraft, whose fuselage appeared intact.

An Airbus 320 US Airways aircraft that went down in the Hudson River is seen in New York, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009. The plane sank in the near-freezing water on one of the coldest days of the year, with the mercury around 20 degrees.

A New York City Police boat joins private watercraft in an attempt to rescue those aboard a US Airways Airbus 320 that went down in the Hudson River off New York City, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009.

Map locates where a US Airways Airbus 320 plane crashed in the Hudson River off New York City on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009.

Ferry boats surround a US Airways aircraft that went down in the Hudson River in New York, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009.

Passengers who escaped a US Airways aircraft that crashed in the Hudson River in New York along with rescue personnel, in a boat heading to one of the piers along the west side of Manhattan, Thursday Jan. 15, 2009. It was not immediately clear if there were injuries.

A passenger who was rescued from a US Airways aircraft that went down in the Hudson River in New York being escorted by rescue personnel, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009.

A victim with undisclosed injuries is loaded onto an ambulance after being rescued from the water after a US Airways plane crashed into the Hudson River off New York on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009.

Authorities move an unidentified passenger, second from right, to a waiting ambulance after the plane she was on crashed into the Hudson River, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009, in New York.

Floatation devices from a US Airways flight that crashed into the Hudson River wash up against a pier on the west side of Manhattan, New York, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009.

A US Airways plane is guided down the Hudson River Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009, in New York. The plane crashed into the frigid Hudson River on Thursday afternoon after striking a flock of birds that disabled two engines, sending 150 on board scrambling onto rescue boats, authorities say. No deaths or serious injuries were immediately reported.

Authorities move an unidentified passenger, second from right, to a waiting ambulance after the plane he was on crashed into the Hudson River, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009, in New York.

A US Airways plane is guided down the Hudson River Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009, in New York. the plane crashed into the frigid Hudson River on Thursday afternoon after striking a bird or birds that disabled two engines, sending 150 on board scrambling onto rescue boats, authorities say. No deaths or serious injuries were immediately reported.

A US Airways Airbus 320 aircraft that went down in the Hudson River is seen in New York, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009. The jetliner crashed into the frigid Hudson River on Thursday afternoon after a collision with a flock of birds disabled both its engines, sending more than 150 passengers and crew members scrambling onto rescue boats, authorities say. No deaths or serious injuries were immediately reported.

Onlookers on the New York side of the Hudson River look on as victims are retrieved from the river after a US Airways plane went down shortly after takeoff Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009.

The US Airways Airbus 320 aircraft that went down in the Hudson River is seen in New York, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009, after being towed to shore.

A New York City firefighter heads toward the Hudson river while responding to the crash of a US Airways plane that went down in the river Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009.

Michelle and Nick Prisco were driving along the Hudson River when they saw the plane fly in low over the water. They said the plane came down with no noise, "like it was gliding."