retired airline captain chesley sullenberger. senator kelly ayotte chaired this two hour hearing. >> good afternoon and welcome. thank you all for being here. today's hearing is one in a series we're holding in preparation for this year's federal aviation administration's reauthorization effort and last week we heard from experts and stakeholders on the certification process and airport infrastructure financing. today we have the opportunity to discuss the single-most important underlying issue for any reauthorization effort and that's safety. the safety of our national airspace system and the safety of the flying public. with that i want to take a moment to recognize the family members of the victims of colgan flight 3407, which crashed near buffalo in 2009 who i understand are here in the audience today. your sustained efforts to improve safety of our skies are admirable and we appreciate you coming to this hearing today.

now i would like to call on captain chesley sullenberger. he is an aviation safety expert and was captain of flight 1549 who was able to land on the hudson. we're happy to have you here, captain. >> chairman ayotte, ranking member cantwell, other members of the committee, it's my great honor to appear before this subcommittee. as the airline pilot as the professional pilot here i'm someone who has had 20000 hours of flying time much of that as a part 121 jet captain time. along with my first officer jeff skiles who is also here. i was in the cockpit of an airliner when we faced suddenly an ultimate challenge. i'm uniquely qualified to tell you exactly how important pilot experience is and why we must not compromise it. i deeply understand what's at stake. as you consider this faa reauthorization bill i want to say it's critical that you maintain the requirements and that you not weaken them, that you not give further credits for beyond what's already been allowed. you see, i've seen firsthand the real cost, the human costs of not having adeq

don't let your child beat on her chesley sullenberger and taunt the gorillas but apparently some parentsense. the zoo has lots of safety and protocol measures in place to protect the public and to protect the animals that are there you need to remember and consider yourself a visitor. how would you act around a stranger that you didn't know? you would exhibit a level of respect and reservation that needs to be applied when we go to a zoo. when you go to a zoo. you are there to learn you are there to learn and experience. the last thing you want to dangle over the railings is something that is about the size of an and lope that cheat that like to eat. >> what does that tell you actually that the cheetahs did not attack. they must be so used to being around humans that how do you piece this together? how did the cheetahs not think of this toddler as food? >> well i think it was very lucky for that toddler that maybe the cheetahs had previously eaten or they were distracted. it is true these animals work with people on a regular basis husband dry for these animals is priority number one for