Jan-13-2005 1128 PM Office of Sen Susan Collins 202-228-0476



## TI-IE AROOSTOOK**~8!,,S?,~~~** 

## CENTER

140 Academy Street P.O. Box 151 Presque Isle,**M~lne,** 04 769·0151 207.768.4000 www.tamc.org

I November 30,2011

Raymond LaHood Secretary 

### U.S. Department ofTi'ansportatto11 1200 New Jersey Ave.; SE Washington, D.C. 20590
Dear Secretary LaHood. -· J

On behalfofThe Aroos.took Medical Center (TAMC), I am writing this letter ofstrong 

### opposition to the 

### new law allowhlg Essential Air 

### Service bidders to submitproposals for 8-sent aircraft. The Aroosto6k Medical Centel' is a large health care organization and one oftho hwgest employe1-s 

### ln'Aroostook County. 

### Due to our location fn 

### rm·al riortheru 

### Maine a laL·geL'·airctaft 

### is 

### essential to the recruittnent 

### ofqualified**health~a.re professlon~ls**  

### that WO\l.ld fly into**~nd** out 

### of the Northern Maine Regional Airport. In the 

### past) when flying potential**employ~es** 

### in fl:·om poiJlts south, there has been an eKpl'ession ofanxiety fn flying on a 15 to 32 passenget aircraft. If 

### an 8..sent**t~ircraft** was 

### all that was 

### available, l believe 

### TAMC would 'be 

### severely limited 

### in the reJruitment ofphysicians, m1rsest and other

### healthcare professionals,· 

### In arum! a1-ea 

### suoh as At·oostook 

### County, recruitment nnd retention ofhigh caliber

### honlth tmd business professionals is already ohallenging. This change 

### would further impact 

### our ability to provlde 

### the best 

### ofcare 

### to 

### our communities.
Not only would an 8-se.nt aircraft be detrimental 

### to TAMC 

### it would, in my 

### nlind, be 

### an overall 

### problem for the 

### entire Aroostook Co\mty-ragion that is 

### a.lready econo,mioally challenged. Many business leaders 

### fly in and Otlt 

### ofthe Northem 

### Maine R¢:glonal Airport 

### on a**r~gular** 

### basls and it is my beliefthat an 8-seat aircraft would nbsolutely not be the desired mode of'tmvel. Having 

### spent tlll'ee years on 

### the 1s1and ofNantucket, Masspehusetts, 

### a oomml.mity prin1arily 

### served 

### by an 

### Bseat airornft, I am 

### also .firmly convinced that the comfort 

### oftho e.xtended 

### distance to**P1~esque** Isle would be untenable in an 8-seat aircraft. While on Nantucket, Ihad to provide alternative transportation 

### fot· mmtel·ous ofmy staffand 

### medical staff

### who were uncomfortable with the limited 

### senting and 

### leg space on 

### atl8

..seat oircraft and can pel'sonally attest to the fact that the 5/6



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EMHS MtMII[flJan-13-2005 11 28 PM Office of Sen Susan Collins 202-228-0476

Raymond LnHood Page2 November30. 2011

one h01.1r l'lde**fl~om** Bostort to Nantucket- a dlsnmce significantly shorter 

### than that envisioned to P1·esque 

### Isle, was 

### the lin1it ofcomfort for that size aircraft..
I

### \u'ge you to oppose tllis law. Aroostook County needs support ±breconomic development to allow it to reach its potential as a su·ons vigo1'ol.ls pat1 ofthe State ofMaine. This law would directly impact the ability oforganizations like The Aroostook Medical Center to remain a vital and competitive organization and contribute to the economic health ofour area. Thank you fol' your aonsideration ofthis request. 

### Sincerely,

# ~~~~ Sylvia Oetman President/CEO SO/pcw:PCA9l99 6/6