### Before the Department of Transportation Washington, DC Office of the Secretary



### In the Matter of ) ) 

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ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE AT ) Docket DOT-OST- 2002-115 86-0045 ANGOON, TENAKEE SPRINGS, ) PELICAN & 

### ELFIN COVE, ALASKA ) 

## _____________________________)

SERVICE PROPOSAL OF KALININ AVIATION LLC dba "ALASKA SEAPLANES"

Communications with respect to this document should be addressed to:

Kent Craford Kalinin Aviation LLC 1873 Shell Simmons Dr. Ste. 110 Juneau, Alaska 99801 kent@ tl 

### valaskaseapl anes.com



### October 22, 2014

### Before the Department of Transportation Washington, DC Office of the Secretary

In the Matter of ) ) 

### ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE AT ) Docket DOT-OST-2002-11586-0045 ANGOON, TENAKEE SPRINGS, ) PELICAN & 

### ELFIN COVE, ALASKA )



# _____________________________)

SERVICE PROPOSAL OF KALININ AVIATION LLC dba "ALASKA SEAPLANES"

Alaska Seaplanes (Seaplanes) respectfully submits the following proposal for continued Essential Air Service between Juneau and the communities of Angoon, Tenakee Springs, Pelican and Elfin Cove.

Our proposal is based on the established stipulated minimum weekly frequencies for the markets:
Angoon: 10 weekly roundtrips in the 18 week peak period, 5 weekly roundtrips off-peak Tenakee Springs: 7 weekly roundtrips in the 18 week peak, 3 per week off-peak Pelican: 6 weekly roundtrips, year-round Elfin Cove: 5 weekly roundtrips peak, 2 per week in the 34 week off-peak period
Seaplanes is requesting another four-year term for service to AGN/TKE/PEC/ELV, and this proposal is offered incumbent on a four-year term. Seaplanes has made, and plans to continue making, capital investments in our service that require the certainty of a four-year Order to finance and amortize those investments.

Revenue projections
Angoon, the largest market of the four served, has experienced persistent economic challenges. Alaska Seaplanes is working to contribute as we can to economic development in the community, by partnering with the local Native Corporation, Kootznoowoo, Inc. on an Admiralty Island-based bear tour, now in its third year. We have also partnered with the City, as well as Tenakee, Pelican and Elfin Cove, on a Small Community Air Service Development (SCASD) grant, which we hope will bring additional independent travelers to Angoon via Alaska

# ~-**~~-~-·**



## /'**-~~~"**

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### ALASKASEAPLAN ES

Flying at a Higher Standard 

### DOT-OST- 2002-115 86-0045 2 

## Is

### Seaplanes. But the economic challenges the community faces, and a shrinking population, coupled with·an increase in competing fast-ferry service, cause us to project Angoon traffic declining going forward.

Tenakee Springs' economy has also faced challenges, most recently with the closure of their school during the 2013-14 year. However, the school has now reopened, and the mainstay business in town, Snyder Mercantile, is under new and invigorated ownership. A new lodge is scheduled to open next year, and an improved marina is expected to bring more summertime vessel calls. We also believe that given its attractiveness as an independent travel destination, Tenakee stands the best chance to benefit from the marketing injection offered by the SCASD program. As such, we are optimistic that Tenakee traffic will rise over the next four years. Subsidy requirement for 2015 will actually drop versus current levels based on our projections.

Pelican's economy also faces challenges as it begins to reinvent itself from a cannery and commercial fishing-based economy to a blended fishing and tourism economy. While there have been bright spots in the economy and resulting air service demand, such as the growing Highliner Lodge, that demand is concentrated in the summer and has not mitigated the continued decline of the year-round population and economy. Several major public works projects have helped the year-round economy and demand for air service, but thqse projects are now completed. The Pelican School remains open, but enrollment is very close to the minimum requirement for full funding. We project total Pelican traffic to grow modestly, carried by the summertime peak.

Elfin Cove has fully transitioned from a year-round economy to a summertime tourism/commercial fishing economy. As such, any growth is seen in the summer months, and lately that trend has been good as the sport fishing lodges rebound from the recession. Ondemand operators continue to dominant the lodge market, but the activity has helped Alaska Seaplanes as well. Based on this trend, we project steady passenger growth in Elfin Cove and a reduced subsidy per passenger over time, but the need to service the community year-round for EAS will continue to render the service unprofitable and require increasing total subsidy.

In all markets we are seeing a long-term declining trend in mail volumes. Coupled with lower mail rates since the last EAS period, we expect to see mail revenue continue a slow drop over time. We expect freight revenue in Angoon to fall over time as more people transition to the fast ferry for grocery runs, etc. and as the population declines. We expect Pelican freight to drop modestly as its year-round population declines. We project Elfin Cove freight revenue to climb

as a function of increased lodge demands. And we expect Tenakee freight revenue to remain flat.


### Specific projections for revenue by type and market can be found in Attachment 1.

# '~**~-~~~** 

## /

# ·~**~** ALASKASEAPLANES

Flying at a Higher Standard 

### DOT-OST- 2002-11586-0045 315

### Aircraft

The one material difference between our existing operational platform and what is proposed here is the addition of a Cessna 208 "Caravan" to our fleet. We are proposing to add the Caravan as a way to begin the transition towards more modern equipment still in production, reducing reliance

on our aging DeHavilland DHC-2 "Beavers." The Beavers remain the workhorses of our fleet, but are showing signs of age, as parts become harder to obtain, leading to reduced dispatch reliability and longer periods of down time. Our oldest Beaver is a 1949 model. The three sets of amphibious floats we use have been out of production for almost 50 years and are becoming increasingly costly to support. We have resorted to having parts custom-fabricated when needed to keep them operational, which is expensive and time consuming. Of our last four Beaver engines, only one made it to TBO (overhaul limit), increasing down time and expense.

While we are committed to keeping our Beaver fleet in good operational condition, it is becoming increasingly expensive to do so, and with aging airframes, they cannot be considered immortal. For safety and reliability reasons, Alaska Seaplanes must begin the transition to aircraft that are still in production and better supported with parts readily available. The Cessna Caravan is the logical platform to transition towards, and has already been adopted by our peers in the Southeast Alaska Part 135 float plane market, including Island Air Express and Taquan Air.

Alaska Seaplanes operates one Cessna Caravan on wheels, and has pilots and mechanics with experience in type. Significant advancements have been made in the last few years to the Caravan which greatly improve its utility and cost-effectiveness as a float plane. We plan to acquire one IFR-equipped Caravan on floats during the next four-year term, and our projections

are based on the assumption that it will fly approximately one-third of the flights to AGN/TKE/PECIELV. While it is a more expensive aircraft to operate, it also has greater capacity, and therefore we propose a flat subsidy per departure regardless of type. 1



### Alaska Seaplanes full subsidy requirement proposal can be found in Attachment 2.
Safety considerations

The Request for Proposals dated September 22, 2014, stated in part that the Department is directed to consider "the experience of the applicant in providing, in Alaska, scheduled air service or significant patterns of non-scheduled air service." In communities served by floatequipped aircraft, especially in the winter when on amphibious floats, safety is paramount. Wind, visibility and tidal influences make flying to these destinations on a regular basis very high risk.

1 Alaska Seaplanes plans to continue using its straight and amphibious float-equipped Cessna C206 as a back-up aircraft at the same subsidy rate as the other aircraft, as established in the amendment to the last Orders 

# ,_**-~-~** 

### /**--~~~** 

## /

# ·~ ..**~**

### ~ 

### ALASKASEAPLANES

Flying at a Higher Standard 

### DOT-OST-2002-11586-0045 415

### Alaska Seaplanes has a seventeen year track record of serving Angoon, Tenakee Springs, Pelican and Elfin Cove without incident or accident. We believe this track record should be given significant weight.



### Juneau as hub

While we understand the pressure the Department is under to cut costs in the EAS program, severing these communities' link to their long-established Juneau hub in favor of a lesser alternative is not an advisable way to go about it, nor is it in keeping with the Department's own guidance stipulating Juneau service as found in Order 80-1-167. To do so would be a permanent socio-economic blow to these communities. As Angoon Mayor Matt Kookesh recently wrote in

a letter to the USDoT regarding this issue, "The abandonment of service to Juneau in favor of less frequent and reduced capacity service to Sitka would be economically devastating to our communities."

What's more, service to an alternate satellite city such as Sitka would deny interstate travelers going to and from these communities access to the greater flight frequency and destination offerings of Alaska Airlines in Juneau, and the competitive service provided by Delta Airlines. And it would render the Department's $300,000 investment in Small Community Air Service Development for Southeast Alaska wasted.

It 

### is our understanding that the Essential Air Service program dictates that communities are entitled to access to a "medium hub." Juneau is the hub of Southeast Alaska. A decision to cut Juneau EAS in favor of service to a non-hub such as Sitka would be punitive and prejudicial. The Department currently provides EAS subsidy to communities a short driving distance to an airport, only because that airport does not qualify as a "medium hub." An example is Hot Springs, Arkansas, less than an hour's drive from Little Rock's Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport which according to its website hosts six airlines offering 57 departures each day and nonstop jet service to 16 national/international gateway cities. And yet, Hot Springs receives EAS subsidy for flights to Memphis and Dallas, for substantially more subsidy per passenger than these four Alaska markets require.

We would like to extend a good-faith invitation to the Department staff, to visit Southeast Alaska at their earliest opportunity. We believe that seeing scheduled float plane service first-hand between Juneau and AGN/TKE/PEC/ELV will help underscore the critical role it plays in the daily lives of residents and the economic viability of these otherwise remote locations.
Respectfully submitted,

Kalinin Aviation LLC Kent Craford, President October 22, 2014

# ~-**~.~.· ·~~~** 

### ~**""'\.:~-** /**4~.**

### ·~ 

### ALAS KAS EAP LANES

Flying at a Higher Standard 

### DOT-OST-2002-11586-0045 SISATTACHMENT 1, PAGE 1


### PROJECTED REVENUE, 2015-2018

2015 MARKET TRAFFIC PROJ. REVENUE PELICAN Passengers $259,755.62 Freight $67,553.68 Mail $52,666.43

ELFIN COVE Passengers $126,755.49 Freight $22,444.87 Mail $28,171.64

ANGOON Passengers $332,633.70 Freight $40,100.73 Mail $62,700.08

TENAKEE Passengers $159,778.13 Freight $29,367.52 Mail $41,295.97

Total $1 223 223.84



### 2016 MARKET TRAFFIC PROJ.REVENUE PELICAN Passengers $273,649.97 Freight $65,278.19 Mail $50,559.77

ELFIN COVE Passengers $135,447.29 Freight $25,062.65 Mail $27,044.78

ANGOON Passengers $335,557.95 Freight $38,749.97 Mail $63,954.08

TENAKEE Passengers $167,418.43 Freight $29,367.52 Mail $40,717.83

Total $1 252 808.41ATTACHMENT 1, PAGE 2



### 2017 MARKET TRAFFIC PROJ. REVENUE PELICAN Passengers $284,705.42 Freight $62,884.66 Mail $48,347.78

ELFIN COVE Passengers $144,436.07 Freight $26,055.52 Mail $25,861.57

ANGOON Passengers $342,269.11 Freight $37,329.13 Mail $61,609.09

TENAKEE Passengers $175,300.43 Freight $29,954.87 Mail $40,100.04

Total $1 278 853.68



### 2018 MARKET TRAFFIC PROJ. REVENUE PELICAN Passengers $296,093.64 Freight $60,369.27 Mail $46,027.08

ELFIN COVE Passengers $153,730.21 Freight $27,078.07 Mail $24,620.21

ANGOON Passengers $345,235.44 Freight $35,835.97 Mail $59,144.73

TENAKEE Passengers $183,430.74 Freight $30,553.96 Mail $39,441.25

Total $1 301 560.59AGN,ELV,PEC,TKEESSENTIALAIRSERVICE2015ATIACHMENT2TOTALW/5%SUBSIDYSUBSIDYPERWEEKLYCAPWEEKLYCAPPROJECTEDSUBSIDYPERMARKETAICEXPENSEINDIRECTEXPENSEMARGINREVENUEREQ'DDEPARTURESDEPARTURE(PEAK)(OFF-PEAK)ENPLANEMENTSPASSENGERPELICANDHC-2"Beaver"/C206$308,757C-208"Caravan"$218,716ELFINCOVEDHC-2"Beaver"/C206$135,837C-208"Caravan"$96,224ANGOONDHC-2"Beaver"/C206$305,845C-208"Caravan"$216,653TENAKEEDHC-2"Beaver"/C206$166,824C-208"Caravan"$118,174AGN,ELV,PEC,TKEESSENTIALSERVICE2016$114,034$50,169$112,958$61,614$641,506 $673,582$379,976$293,606624$470.52$5,646.27 $5,646.271,652$177.75$282,231$296,342$177,372$118,970316$376.49$3,764.88$1,505.95860$138.35$635,456$667,229$435,434$231,794700$331.13$6,622.69$3,311.352,842$81.56$346,612$363,943$230,442$133,501456$292.77$4,098.72 $1,756.601,365$97.80TOTALW/5%SUBSIDYSUBSIDYPERWEEKLYCAPWEEKLYCAPPROJECTEDSUBSIDYPERMARKETA/CEXPENSEINDIRECTEXPENSEMARGINREVENUEREQ'DDEPARTURESDEPARTURE(PEAK)(OFF-PEAK)ENPLANEMENTSPASSENGERPELICANDHC-2"Beaver"/C206$321,107C-208"Caravan"$224,184$119,736$665,026 $698,278 $389,488$308,790624$494.86$5,938.26$5,938.261,706$181.00ELFINCOVEDHC-2"Beaver"/C206$141,271C-208"Caravan"$98,630$52,678$292,578$307,207$187,555$119,652316$378.65$3,786.47$1,514.59901$132.81ANGOONDHC-2"Beaver"/C206$318,078C-208"Caravan"$222,069$118,606$658,754$691,692$438,262$253,430700$362.04$7,240.85$3,620.422,811$90.17TENAKEEDHC-2"Beaver"/C206$173,497C-208"Caravan"$121,129$64,694$359,320$377,286$237,504$139,783456$306.54$4,291.57 $1,839.241,402$99.68AGN,ELV,PEC,TKEESSENTIALSERVICE2017ATTACHMENT2,PAGE2TOTALW/5%SUBSIDYSUBSIDYPERWEEKLYCAPWEEKLYCAPPROJECTEDSUBSIDYPERMARKETAICEXPENSEINDIRECTEXPENSEMARGINREVENUEREQ'DDEPARTURESDEPARTURE(PEAK)(OFF-PEAK)ENPLANEMENTSPASSENGERPELICANDHC-2"Beaver"/C206$333,951C-208"Caravan"$229,788ELFINCOVEDHC-2"Beaver"/C206$146,922C-208"Caravan"$101,095ANGOONDHC-2"Beaver"/C206$330,801C-208"Caravan"$227,621TENAKEEDHC-2"Beaver"/C206$180,437C-208"Caravan"$124,157AGN,ELV,PEC,TKEESSENTIALSERVICE2018$125,723$55,312$124,537$67,929$689,462$723,935$395,938$327,997624$525.64$6,307.64$6,307.641,740$188.49$303,329$318,495$196,353$122,142316$386.53$3,865.25$1,546.10942$129.68$682,959$717,107$441,207$275900700$394.14$7,882.85$3,941.432,811$98.16$372,523$391,149$245,355$145,794456$319.72$4,476.13$1,918.341,440$101.28TOTALW/5%SUBSIDYSUBSIDYPERWEEKLYCAPWEEKLYCAPPROJECTEDSUBSIDYPERMARKETAICEXPENSEINDIRECTEXPENSEMARGINREVENUEREQ'DDEPARTURESDEPARTURE(PEAK)(OFF-PEAK)ENPLANEMENTSPASSENGERPELICANDHC-2"Beaver"/C206$347,309C-208"Caravan"$235,533$132,009$714,851$750,593$402,490$348,103624$557.86$6,694.30$6,694.301,774$196.20ELFINCOVEDHC-2"Beaver"/C206$152,799C-208"Caravan"$103,623$58,077$314,498$330,223$205,428$124,795316$394.92$3,949.20$1,579.68983$126.98ANGOONDHC-2"Beaver"/C206$344,034C-208"Caravan"$233,311$130,764$708,109$743,514$440,216$303,298700$433.28$8,665.65$4,332.832,779$109.12TENAKEEDHC-2"Beaver"/C206$187,655C-208"Caravan"$127,261$71,326$386,241$405,553$253,426$152,127456$333.61$4,670.57$2,001.671,477$103.01Mr. Todd Homan Director, Office of Aviation Analysis US Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE Washington, DC 20590
Dear Mr. Homan, Office of the Mayor City of Pelka n

PO Box 737 Pelican, Alaska 99832

October 20, 2014

Pelican is a remote community on Chichagof Island, an hour's flight from our hub at Juneau. Our community has no road access to the mainland, and very infrequent ferry service. As such, we depend
on scheduled air service for Pelican's daily U.S. Mail deliveries, and access to basic services including healthcare that Alaska Seaplanes' six days per week flight schedule offers. Alaska Seaplanes is Pelican's lifeline to Juneau and points beyond. Over the past four years, under new ownership, Alaska Seaplanes has consistently reinvested in their service, with the addition of another aircraft in 2012, upgrading their fleet, and expansion of their reservation system and increased marketing efforts. Being situated near the outside coast of the Pacific Ocean 1 Pelican often experiences challenging weather conditions. As a member of a commercial fishing family, I can attest to this first hand. Despite this challenge, Alaska Seaplanes has managed to capably serve Pelican for 17 years with an excellent safety record, a remarkable accomplishment in Alaska aviation.

Alaska Seaplanes demonstrates their commitment to Pelican's economy by partnering with the City of Pelican in our pursuit of a Small Community Air Service Development (SCASD) grant, which provides needed resources to more broadly market the unique tourism opportunities our community has to offer independent travelers. Alaska Seaplanes contributes to community events and organizations, and sponsors a local high school student skier by supporting flights to Juneau for pra<:tice and competitions.

Alaska Seaplanes is also proposing to expand their aircraft fleet over the next four year EAS term by adding a Cessna Caravan, which will support our local fishing fleet and tourism businesses-a decision I strongly endorse. Further, having an

**IFR~capable** Cessna Caravan will allow Pelican to enjoy the same benefits as nearby wheel plane markets like Kake, Hoonah, Gustavus, Haines and Skagway-who are served by Alaska Seaplanes IFR-capable aircraft able to cut through the notorious moisture that hangs around the Juneau airport and Mendenhall Glacier that otherwise render our float-planes grounded. This will offer an improvement in flight completion percentage, but also the added safety benefit of turbine aircraft.

I support Alaska Sea planes' proposal for continued Essential Air Service (EAS) between Juneau and Pelican for a new four-year term.
Sincerely,

. 'J 

# ,f

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### P~~.-c/r~~ Patricia Phillips I MayorRESOlUTION NO.

**14~08** A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ANGOON, ALASKA SUPPORTING THE PROPOSAL OF AIR SERVICE TO ANGOON BY ALASKA SEAPLANES

WHEREAS, The Community of Angoon, Alaska is situated on Adrnirolty Island, Without road

access to the mainland; and WHEREAS, Angoon Is guaranteed scheduled air service under the 1978 Airllne Deregulation Act Essential Air Service (EAS) program; and WHEREAS, Schedul'?d air service prcv:dt>s 2 ci:.:cai l:nk. emergency ;ervrces, medica: ca'e. equipment and supplies. freighT and US rnari serv Ce, and businpss :)nd tourrst tr;:rve!; a1rl WHEREAS, Angoon rs served by our scheduled air service provider Kalinin Aviation dba ''Alaska Seaplanes' with a minnl1Ufll guaranteed seven roundtrips per week to and from Juneau in the summertime peak
season, and at least three guaranteed roundtrios in the off-peak season; and WHEREAS, Aloska Seaplanes has a full fleet of straight and amphibious iloat planes cmd hvs capably served our community for 17 years with perfect safety record; and WHEREAS, Alaska Seaplane's proposes to continue service to Angoon under a new four year contract utilizing its existing DHC-2 Beaver/Cessna 206 fleet on straight floats in :he summertime and amphibio,Is floats in the winter when the Juneau pond is frozen, and WHEREAS, Alaska Seaplanes proposes upgradrng its fleet with the addition of and IFR-capable Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft on amphibious floats. offering greater capacity and improved reliability during poor VIsibility conditions al the Juneau airport when the VFR operations are otherw1se grounded.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ANGOON, ALASKA, hereby endorses the Essential Air Service proposal of Alaska Seaplanes os :-ubmittcd for a new four-year term to DOT on
a DHC-2/Cessna 206/ Cessna 208

**plat~orm.**

PASSED AND APPROVED BY A DULY CONSTITUTED QUORUM OF THE CITY COUNCIL THIS _21"_ DAY OF

__ October

__ , 2014.

rvlaUiH:'W

**Kuuke~t1** Jr, Mayor of Angoon ATIEST:

Mariann David, Interim City Clerk Voting:

Kevm Frank Sr. Jess Dan1els Albert Howard
Edward Jack Sr. Matthew Kookesh Yea

__Nav

____ Ha-rlet Silva
Yea

__Nay

__. Randa!! Gamble Yea_j__Nay

__ Yea_-_Nay

__Dear Mr Gomas Pelican City School District Box 90- 14 Chum Way Pelican Alaska 99832-0090 907·735·2236 ph. 735-2263 fax

Please accept thiS letter endcrSif19 Alaska Seapll:mes' proposal to ccnbnue providing Essential Air Service between Juneau and Pelican for another 4·year term.

l's a remote Ala:sk.a commun•ty with no road access and limited ferry service, we rely tremendously on Alaska Seaplanes" scheduled seNk-.e
to provide a cntical !ink to Juneau for medical care, emergency services, groceties and supplies, and connections to Alaska Airlines and Delta Airlines flights lo Anchorage, the lower 48 and beyond Alaska Seaplanes has terrific local customer service agents here in Pelican ·Nho have yeatS of experience ensunng our commurtity gets the attention and p.rtorrty we need

Alaska Seaplanes has responded to that demand, by add1119 an addltior.at airctaft in recent years. making less expensive tares available through online bool<ir'9. developing a mobife

**~bsite** for e3Sier reservations, and upgrading the quality of their airr:raft with new seats and 1ntenors JUst this year Seapia11es has made an exira effort this year to support our local fishing ficct -Mth extra capacity and discounl> co fresh fish shipments, whiCh help fill up the plane when it wouldn't

**other~>ASe** be. ltns suppof!S !heir six day per weeK flight frequency-a frequency which is crucial to mamtainmg PetK;.<Cln's economic heal!,h
Seaplanes also goes the extra mile to a=mmodate fish when 1t amves m Juneau Last year they bought a larger r.apacity freezer to ensure that our product is, well cared for despite its long journey. Seaplanes has contributed consistently over the years to local philanthropic activities. and has' even spcnsored our local compeblive skier ln her effurts to maintain a prectice and race schedule. Further. Seaplanes has taken a leadersh•p role in supporting economic developmet'!l '" Pelican by p"rtnering with the Oty on ohtamong a Small Community Air Service Development grant which will help IJS market our localtourlsm businesses in Juneau and beyond

I understand that Alaska Seaplanes' new EAS proposal includes the addition of an IFR-capable Cessna Caravan on amphibious fioa\5 Tms

1s a very wise investment 111 Pelican's air se!Vice, as it will help support cur growing sumrnertime fishmg lodge businesses. better randle travel for our local sports teams. and lessen the frequency of weather c.1ncefations when Juneau airport visJbility conditions prevert VFR flights from departifl9 the pond.
Finally, Alaska Seaplanes has an unparalleled safety recorrl, -Mth 17

**ye.~rs** of incident ami acr.>rJent free fiying-a record that sr,eaks to the

care and responsible approach they bring lo every ft1ght

Please accept Alaska Seaplanes' proposal for a new 4-year term serv1ng. Pelican.September 26, 2014

U.S. Depart of Transportation Attn: Michael Gormas

Dear Mr. Gormas:

The Pelican Chilmber of Commerce is most supportive of the essential service designation for the Alaska Seaplanes, a Juneau based firm. It is Chamber's position the essential air service designation should be continued for the following reasons:
• PcUc::1n l:. J remote

**.~!a~ka** con1rnunity v.;ithout road COiHlci..liOn.:> tu ad·y> uti'.t:I community.

• Pelican depends upon air transport for and services from the nearest major urban community----Juneau, Alaska.

• Geography being what it is; Juneau is the most reliable route for air service to an urban center.

• Advanced medical care is available in Juneau.
• Juneau, the Capitol of Alaska, is a destination for business, government, and local political interests.

• Juneau is a major transportation hub for air service to the 48 contiguous states and for the Alaska Marine Highway System, (ferry service to roads out of Alaska).
• Alaska Seaplanes has a very lengthy history of serving rural communities in Southeast Alaska, for all practical purposes they are the descendent of a company that was serving Pelican in the 1970's. Please continue to provide essential air service to Pelican through Alaska Seaplanes.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
Sincerely:

Norm Carson, President Pelican Chamber of Commerce PO Box 737
, Pelican, AK 99832October 21,2014



### Mr. Todd Homan Director, Office of Aviation Analysis US Department ofTransportation 1200 

### New Jersey Ave, 

### SE Washington, 

### DC 20590

Dear Mr. Homan,

Please accept this letter endorsing Alaska Seaplanes' proposal to continue providing Essential Air Service between Juneau and Tenakee Springs for another 4-year term.

As 

### a remote Alaska community 

### with 

### no road 

### access, we rely heavily on Alaska Seaplanes' scheduled service to provide a critical link to JlUleau for medical care, emergency services, US mail, groceries, supplies, and connections to Ala'lka Airlines and Delta Airlines flights to Anchorage, the lower 48 and beyond. With only two ferry stops a week, it is critical to keep the daily scheduled service that Alaska Seaplanes provides into Juneau.

Alaska Seaplanes has responded to that demand, by adding an additional aircraft in recent years, making less expensive fares available through online booking, developing a mobile website for easier reservations, and upgrading the quality oftheir aircraft with new seats and interiors just this year. Their scheduled 

### frequency-to 

### Juneau (not

**Sitka~-is** 

### crucial to 

### maintaining Tenakee's economic health. and must be preserved in the next four-year EAS term, without reduction.

As a future business

**o~11cr** ofthe Tenakee 

### Inn., I will rely on Alaska Seaplanes for moving my customers in and out of Juneau for their vacations with us.

1 have lived in Tenakee Springs since 1981 and have never seen scheduled service from anywhere else but Juneau. Why would I go to a town of 8,000 (Sitka) when I can go into the 

### regional hub of

### Juneau (33,000) 

### for all 

### my services. There are many people 

### who live here who work part of1he year in or out ofJuneau and losing daily scheduled air service to Juneau would be a hardship 

### tor these individuals and their families.
Seaplanes also 

### goes the extra mile to accommodate fish when it arrives in Juneau. Last year they bought a larger capacity :freezer to ensure that our fishermen's product is well cared for despite its longjourney. Seaplanes has contributed consistently over the years to local philanthropic activities, they are a great community partner. Further, Seaplanes has 

### taken a leadership role 

### in supporting economic development by partnering 

### with the City on obtaining a Small Community Air Service Development grant which will help us market our local tourism businesses in Juneau and beyond.I understand 

### that Alaska Seaplanes' new EAS proposal includes the addition of an IFR-capable Cessna Caravan 

### on amphibious floats. This is 

### a very wise investment 

### in Tenakee's 

### air service,

as it will provide greater capacity when we need it and lessen the frequency ofweather cancelations when Juneau airport visibility conditions prevent VFR flights from departing the 

### pond.

Finally, Alaska Seaplanes has an unparalleled safety record, v.itb 17 years of incident and accident free flying-a record that speaks to the care and responsible approach they bring to every flight.

Please accept Alaska Seaplanes' proposal for a new 4-year term serving Tenakee Springs.

Sincerely,

# 6~t) 

# ..L)f-/1

# t r 

## !JaL-f"-RA--

Beret M. Barnes POBox502 Tenakee Springs, AK 99841 (907) 736-2226 Future G-wner ofthe Tenakee Inn

# ANGOON TRADING CO., INC.

BOX 10 • ANGOON, ALASKA 99820



## October 22, 2014


# !vrr. Todd 1:-Ioman Director, Office ofAviation Analysis US Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE Washington, DC 20590

Dear Mr. Homan,

I am \\'Titing in support ofAlaska Seaplanes' proposal 

## 19 continue serving Angoon under the Essential Air Service program tor another four years.

We operate Angoon Trading, the only store on Admiralty Island, selling groceries and general merchandise. We rely on Alaska Seaplanes' scheduled service between Juneau and Angoon, both for freight service for our business, as well as

**p~rsonal** 

## travel. Since Angoon has no road access, Alaska Seaplanes' scheduled service provides a critical link to Juneau for medical care, emergency services, and connections to Alaska Airlines and Delta Airlines. Seaplanes has supported economic development in Angoon through theirjoint venture with our local native corporation, and by partnering with the City to obtain a Small Community Air Service Development grant. In 

## order to capitalize on that investment, 

## it is imperative that Angoon's current schedule frequency be maintained to Juneau which has superior medical facilities, as well as access to other consumer goods not found in the rest of SE Alaska.

Alaska Seaplanes has consistently reinvested in their business, from their aircraft
to their back-office. I support Alaska Seaplanes' proposal to add an IFR-capable Cessna C208 Caravan on floats to their existing fleet. A Caravan so equipped should reduce the incidence of weather canceiations when Juneau visibility conditions prevent VFR ±1ights from departing.

### Alaska Seaplanes also stands apart with an unparalleled safety record--17 years of incident and accident free flying. As a business person dependent on reliable air transportation between

**~ngoon** 

### and Juneau, I hope you 

## will accept Alaska

**Seaplane_.~~:J.pprror ~sa~~?a**  

### new 4-year term. 

## j/



# ~;::-¥;: 

# y, ' _,. , I 1' //\

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## I !. /' i'

**.~'** j 

### "-,-ffayne Thompson

President Angoon Trading Co. 907-209-4226

-------······-···-···--·------------

## October 16, 2014

**~v1r.** 

## Gmnas Department of Transportation

This letter is 

## to inf()rm you 

## of my 

## opinion Alaska Seaplanes 

## is to our communi

. 

## lived since January at which tin1c 

## Alaska Coastal daily 

## service A 

# fevv it Channel F lvi " 

## lican. 

## t remained 

## with until around 1980. From there "t \\Us 

## Lo avwt10n present A Scap A! Seaplanes taken 

## ·ly'' 

## service to 

## do 

## the they can do 

## j that. 

## Anvtime ere an emergencv Al SeaJJlanes will
'-- " l' 

## \Vhatevcr it 

## takes lp. rew years lanes ave 

## less Ii 

## beincr mv b ,! 

## that \vas q 

## ionablc. donate all fund raisers seat

**f~1res** 

## to free frc · 

## this 

## cornmunitv is im

I 

## proposal Peli

I

.

**~** I

. !

**v~** C : 

### c \. I

I ! .., 

## you please

a ne\\ term 

## servi 

## lanes
our community

### October 21, 2014

Mr. Todd Homan Director, Office of Aviation Analysis US 

### Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE Washington, 

### DC 20590

Dear 

### Mr. Homan,

Please accept this letter endorsing Alaska Seaplanes' proposal to continue providing Essential Air Service between Juneau and Tenakee Springs for another four year term.

Their scheduled frequency-to Juneau (not 

### Sitka)-is 

### crucial to maintaining Tenakee Springs' economic health, and must be preserved in the next four-year EAS term, without reduction.

Tenakee Springs is a remote Alaska community 

### with no road access and limited 

### ferry service. As a full time resident and business owner, I fully support Alaska Seaplanes' scheduled daily service to Juneau. Reliance on transportation for medical care, emergency services, groceries and supplies, and US Mail service is indispensable in 

### sustaining our 

### way of 

### life.

Alaska Seaplanes has responded by adding additional aircraft in recent years, developing .a mobile website for easier reservations, and upgrading the quality oftheir 

### aircraft with 

### new seats 

### and interiors just this year. 

### Seaplanes also goes 

### the extra mile 

### to accommodate 

### fresh seafood 

### when it arrives in Juneau. Last year they bought a larger capacity freezer to ensure that our fishermen's product 

### is well cared 

### for despite its 

### long journey. 

### Seaplanes has contributed consistently over 

### the years to 

### local philanthropic activities, they are 

### a great community partner. Further, Seaplanes 

### has taken a leadership role in 

### supporting economic development by partnering with the City on obtaining a Small Community Air Service Development grant which 

### will help us market our local tourism businesses in Juneau and beyond.

I understand that Alaska Seaplanes' new EAS proposal includes the addition of an

**IFR~capable** Cessna Caravan on amphibious 

### floats. This 

### is a very wise investment 

### in Tenakee Springs' air service, as 

### it will 

### provide greater capacity when we need 

### it and lessen the frequency of weather cancelations when visibitity conditions prevent VFR flights 

### from operating 

### into and out of Juneau 

### airport.Finally, Alaska Seaplanes has an unparalleled safety record, with 17 years of incident and accident free flying-a record that speaks to the care and responsible approach they bring to every flight.

Please accept Alaska Seaplanes' proposal for a new

**4~year** term serving Tenakee Springs.

Sincerely,

**~**



### ,>)A~'{



## ---- /0' .'/ 'i/ .i

**~·"'·** 

### //.- (.., / ,/ 

### "·-., y· (/,.

**,...~**

.. :....-"'\, 

### -

...

**-,~~'.** Ken Wheeler 

### PO Box 502 Tenakee Springs, AK 99841 

### (907)

**736~2226** Owner: West End Woodworks

# ANoooN OIL&: GAs 

# ·co.

P.O. Box 126 • Angoon, Alaska 99820

October 22, 2014



### US DEPT 

### OF TRANSPORTATION Attn: Mr. Todd Homan Director, Office of Aviation Analysis 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE Washington, 

### DC 20590

RE: ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE



### Dear 

### Mr. Homan;
Our community of Angoon is located on a remote island with no mainland road connections. OUr 

### scheduled daily air service is provided by Alaska Seaplane in and out of Juneau which enables connection for 

### travel north for healthcare; emergency and otherwise

**a::~** 

### we utilize the Alaska Native Medical Clinic in Anchorage.

It is my understanding that there is discussion by 

### the Department of Tran5p0rtation about possibly discontinuing the Angoon-Juneau service.

AS 

### a

**~ife** 

### lonq resident and

**owne~** 

### of small business {native female owned.)" l: 

### cannot

**:stres::~** 

### enough '¥ 

### detrimental this type of action would be on our7falready fraqil

**~·nomic** 

### picture. It is imperative that the



### Juneau-Anq~ connection



### ;~in intact and with the same frequency.

Alaska. Angoon residents basis for shopping, larqer functions such as .ebration (s) •

. tor 17 

### years with no considerably in upgrading expanding their service hours, extending

**~~~~ati~n :sy~em,**  

### enlarged the freezer capacity etc. They have

**:~f** 

### Angoon and 

### Kootznoowoo, Inc., our local native

**P:~omote** 

### tourism.

**~~~~n4** 

### Seaplane for a new four-year term to provide

**i~>~··~~SE~nt:1clL** 

### Air Service program.