o 

U.S. Department of C'.pljO ? 1200 New jersey Ave., S.E. 

Transportation pmt^lO H Washington. DC 20590 

Office Of the Secretary j,3„ h 29. aoli^EBAiiOKo 

Of Transportation 

, J ; - • U J 

Mr. Lee Miller 

President, Miller Transporters, Inc. 

P.O. Box 1123 

Jackson, MS 39215-1123 

Dear Mr. Miller: 

Thank you for your letter of March 6 to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, supporting the 

application of US Airways for two within-perimeter slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan 

Washington National Airport (DCA). These two slot exemptions are available for reallocation 

under 49 U.S.C. § 41718(b) as a result of the return of two such exemptions that had earlier been 

granted for service to Jackson (JAN). Two slot exemptions would support one daily round-trip 

from DCA. Secretary LaHood asked that I respond to your letter. 

US Airways' application, which the Department received on March 5, proposes to continue the 

service to Jackson from DCA with one round-trip per day. Other timely applications for the 

exemptions were received from Frontier Airlines, proposing service to Louisville, KY, and 

Southwest Airlines, proposing service to Will Rogers Airport in Oklahoma City. In the interim, 

the Department granted US Airways the authority it needed to operate JAN-DCA service until 

such time as the Department completes the reallocation proceeding. 

As the matter is still pending, 1 hope you understand that we cannot comment on the merits of 

the points raised in your letter. However, I can assure you that all applications the Department 

receives will be given f\ill and fair consideration and will be evaluated against the selection 

criteria specifled by statute. 

The Department's action on this matter is being administered through a public docket, which 

allows all interested parlies the opportunity to comment. Following our normal practice, 1 am 

placing a copy of your letter and this response in docket DOT-2000-7182. 

I appreciate knowing of your interest in this matter. 

Sincerely yours. 

fttU^^. 

Robert Letteney 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
MILLER TRANSPORTERS, INC. 

Quality Survice Since 1942 

March 6, 2012 

The Honorable Rayinonci H. LaHood 

Secretary of Transportation 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

I am writing to support the application of US Aiiways to obtain a slot exemption in the Departments slot 

exemption proceeding noticed on January 11,2007 Docket OST-2000-7182 for the following reasons: 

• Located in the center of the state, Jackson is the laigest population center in a region stretching 400 

miles between New Orleans in the soutli, and Memphis to the north. 

• As tlie state capital, Jackson has the largest by far- concentration of federal, state and local government 

agencies and offices in Mississippi, many of whose employees regularly travel to and from Washington, 

DC. 

• The Jackson region's economy consists of industries led by healtlicare, aerospace, communication, 

energy, education and manufacturing. 

• Healthcare is a large segment of the local economy. Jackson is home to tlie University of Mississippi 

Medical Center, Baptist Health Systems, Methodist Rehabilitation Hospital, tlie Sonny Montgomery 

Veterans Hospital, St. Dominic Catholic Medical Center and numerous other public and private 

healthcare facilities. 

• Numerous institutions of higher education aie located in Jackson, includmg tlie University of 

Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson State University, Belhaven University, Millsaps College, 

Mississippi College, Hinds Community College and Holmes Community College. 

• Jackson is the state headquarters for the Mississippi National Guard and other military reserve units. 

JAN is home to the Air National Guard 172nd Air Wing and its fleet of C-17 cargo aircraft. Numerous 

active duty and reserve militaiy personnel travel to and from Washington, DC regularly. 

• The DCA-JAN Service is the only nonstop service in Mississippi to either of the two airports which 

sei-ve Washington, DC. If the DCA-JAN Service is discontinued, the entire state of Mississippi would 

be witliout nonstop service to the nation's coital. 

• The proceeding under Docket DOT-OST-2000-7182 is essentially about small community access to 

Washington, DC. As required by 49 U.S.C. Section 41718(b), the DCA - JAN Service is service to a 

"small community." 

• Denial of the US Airways Application would be counter to the core purposes of the Wendell H. Ford 

Aviation Investment and Reform Act of the 21st Century and the Vision 100 - Century of Aviation 

Reauthorization Act. 

• Discontinuance of the DCA - JAN Service would be a major blow to the economic development and 

growth of the greater Jackson area and the state of Mississippi. 

This new service is critical to the future growth of the Jackson aiea. Tliank you in advance for your support 

Sincerely. 

A? 

Lee Miller 

President 

Sl0-1?0315-01i 

P.O. Box i !25 I Jfickson, Mississippi 392)3-1 i23 1 Phone: 601/922-833! Fnx; 60i/923-25;-i9 

Specialist hi 'Ti-aHSponiiig BuJk ConiiiKKliut:; Since !9-i2iwvvw.milicii.ccmi