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Hero pilot offers hat to help 2 Calif. schools

The pilot who guided a disabled jetliner to an emergency landing in the Hudson River is offering his pilot's hat to help two California schools.
Image: Captain Sullenberger's pilot's hat
The proceeds from the auction of Capt. Chesley Sullenberger's hat will go to two Northern California schools.eBay
/ Source: The Associated Press

The pilot who guided a disabled jetliner to an emergency landing in the Hudson River is offering his pilot's hat for auction to raise money for two California schools.

Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger's hat is being offered on eBay. Allie Herson, a representative with a publicity firm working with Sullenberger, says the high bidder will get the dark blue hat and a personally written note from Sullenberger and his wife, Lorrie.

The money will go to Dougherty Valley High in San Ramon, where the pilot's daughters attend school, and a sister school, Lockwood Elementary in East Oakland.

Herson says bidding started Monday, and by Tuesday afternoon the highest bid surpassed $4,100. The bidding is set to run until Dec. 14.

Sullenberger was not wearing the hat when he landed his disabled US Airways jet in the river in January. All 155 people aboard escaped safely.

"Sully and I were excited by the opportunity to help these two public schools," his wife, Lorrie Sullenberger, said in a news release.

"We were eager to make this donation to the school auction. We hope that the winner will enjoy owning Sully’s pilot’s hat, but also that they will be happy that they have helped fund two deserving educational institutions."