Adams, Kevin (OST) Q.« ^ ^ ^ V13 13 

—From: - Jennifer-Stanford [smile4all7@comcast.net] 

Sent: Friday, January 15, 2010 4:02 PM 

TQ:;?- ^ EAS{0ST ) "" ^ 

Cc: Adams, Kevin (OST); Christine.Klein@Alasl<a.gov; smile4all7@comcast.net 

Subject: Answer to Karluk/Akhiok proposal of Terry Cratty 

01/15/2010 L:] 

Chief, Essential Air Service Division '.'.^ 

Office of Aviation Analysis j : 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, D.C. 20590 S 

Dennis Devany r i 

Dear Mr. Devany: 

Having received the copy of Servant Air's most recent letter concerning essential service at both Akhiok 

and Karluk Alaska, I offer these points of consideration. 

1. Servant Air has had equal and ample opportunity to bid these contracts the same as Island 

Air, in that as stated in the request for proposal that "Interested carriers should prepare their 

proposals with every expectation that their initial proposals will also be their final and only 

proposals." As the Department accepts multiple proposals in our current bidding structure 

Servant Air could have easily placed this alternatively before the bid closing. 

2. It is obvious that this new proposal of Servant Air is only a ploy to force the contract into a 

rebidding status following a summer season of operation. This is clearly intended by the 

restating of a well known fact in their letter of request dated 1/11/2010, (Servant Air retains 

its right to reduce service on 90-days notice if the service situation at Akhiok and Karluk 

changes.) 

3. Mr. Cratty states that "Servant's fleet has more different aircraft types, and it can 

accommodate the variable demand more efficiently". Servants extra types are single engine 

Cessna 207 and 206 aircraft. These single engine aircraft provide no substantial operational 

change. Akhiok and Karluk are difficult runways to operate out of due to high average 

crosswinds and additionally length with Karluk. Island Air operates the majority of all its 

traffic with two 9 passenger Brittan Norman Islanders. Our third Islander will probably be 

put on line if this contract is awarded. The Islanders have a published 30 knot direct 

crosswind capability, which is substantially greater than any of the single engine aircraft 

now based in Kodiak. With short takeoff and land (STOL) and twin engine safety added to 

the equation, there is no safer aircraft to carry out this contract. Island Air's option II, 

addresses this. Our bid is with the Islander and a greatly reduce seat fare to the local 

community. It simply is the best community option to be proposed. 

4. Servant's proposal in Akhiok has one less trip in the thirty four month off peak season, 

(two as opposed to Island air's three, and in a single engine aircraft.) This is a giant step 

backwards! Karluk maintains equal operational capabilities with both bids, yet after 

Servant's tenure of operating this contract several years ago, they could not garnish Karluk's 

tribal or population support for further operations! Furthermore Island Air has consistently 

placed extra sections to accommodate all that want to travel on every contract operated for 

1/15/2010 
Page 2 of 2 

the Department at no additional cost. We have done this for many years (Customer Service). 

5. Finally, Servant Air has absolutely zero motivation to provide as stipulated in the 

Departments directives "Service Reliability", especially in the winter months without a 

subsidy. I would expect to see a 90 day notice initially filed for Karluk. 

6. In conclusion Servant Airs bid is nether a step forward nor responsible in the current 

economic conditions present in this country. 

Sincerely 

Robert G. Stanford 

Redemption Inc dba Island Air Service 

907-539-1182 cell 

Smile4all7@comcast.net (current email) 

1/15/2010