November 4, 2014 

Mr. Todd Homan Director, Office of Aviation Analysis 

US Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re: USDOT Determination 80-1-167 Essential Air Service 

Mr. Holman: 

Karen K. Crandall 

...• ~ 

Tenakee Springs, AK 99841 

Email: 

I am a resident of the small and isolated community of Tenakee Springs, Alaska and also own a home in Juneau, 

Alaska. I spend nearly equal amounts of time in both communities. I depend on the safe and reliable services of 

Alaska Seaplanes to travel between the two communities. From Juneau I can connect with frequent flights to 

Anchorage, Seattle and all other small communities in Southeast Alaska. Tenakee Springs is guaranteed scheduled 

air service under the 1978 Airline Deregulation Act, as provided by the US Department of Transportation's 

(USDOT) Essential Air Service program. Further, USDOT Determination 80-1-167 stipulates that Angoon, Tenakee 

Springs and Pelican are entitled to essential air service to and from Juneau. It is my understanding that the US 

Department of Transportation is considering changing the designated "air service hub" from Juneau to Sitka. 

Juneau, not Sitka, is the transportation hub for northern Southeast Alaska communities. Currently only one flight 

/day goes from Sitka to Seattle or Anchorage without going through or connecting to another flight in Juneau. By 

flying to Juneau you can also make good and frequent ferry connections to most of those same locations and to 

the road system connecting Alaska to the Lower 48. 

Juneau is not only the transportation hub but it is also where people from Tenakee Springs shop, do business, go 

to the doctor (including some specialists) or dentist, bank, get medical services at Bartlett Regional Hospital, seek 

many necessary services available from private businesses and government agencies found in Juneau and 

sometimes find work. Service providers, repair/utility technicians, government representatives based in Juneau 

fly to Tenakee to provide essential services to this small and remote town. Alaska Seaplanes not only provides 

reliable transportation for locals and visitors but also promptly delivers our mail, UPS packages, perishable 

groceries, medications, freight, etc. Our local grocer frequently relies on float plane service to deliver perishable 

groceries from suppliers in Juneau to his store. Tenakee's commercial fishermen fly their fresh catch directly to 

Juneau buyers. Tenakee's few inns and charter fishing businesses depend on reliable flights to and from Juneau. 

Their clients may fly in from the Lower 48 to Juneau, take a side trip off a cruise ship or want to get away from 

Juneau for a weekend. 

The connection between Tenakee Springs and Juneau is historic and essential. Please reaffirm our guarantee 

under the Essential Air Service program of access to the longstanding Juneau air service hub, and expeditiously 

approve the proposal of Alaska Seaplanes to continue serving our community for no less than another four year 

term. 

Sincerely, 

Karen K. Crandall 
Cc: 

The Honorable Mark Begich 

United States Senate 

Suite 308 

One Sealaska Plaza 

Juneau, AK 99801 

Sally Smith@begich.senate.gov 

The Honorable Don Young 

US House of Representatives 

4241 B Street 

Suite 203 

Anchorage, AK 99503 

Chad. Padgett@mail. house. gov 

The Honorable Lisa Murkowski 

United States Senate 

800 Glacier Avenue 

Suite 101 

Juneau, AK 99801 

kevin sweeney@murkowski.senate.gov 

The Honorable Don Pegues, Mayor 

Tenakee Springs, AK 99841 

Don Pegues, Mayor <citytke@gmail.com> 

Mike Stedman & Kent Craford, Alaska Seaplanes, LLC 

1873 Shell Simmons Dr. 

Suite 110 

Juneau, AK 99801 

info@flyalaskaseaplanes.com