# ALASKA LEGISLATURE Representative Jonathan Kreiss

- Tomkins

Angoon · Craig · Elfin Cove · Haines · Hoonah · Hydaburg · Kake · Kasaan · Klawock · Klukwan · Metlakatla · Pelican · Port Al exander · Sitka

rep.jonathan.kreiss

- tomkins@akleg. gov

Committees: Transportation Fisheries State Affairs Juneau, Alaska 99801 (Jan

- Apr) State Capitol, Room 426 (907) 465

- 3732

Sitka, Alaska 99835 (May

- Dec) 201 Katlian Street
, Ste 103

(907) 747

- 4665

US Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE

Washington, DC 20590

September 2 , 2014

United States Department of Transportation,

I write to offer my unabashed, unconditional, and full

- throated support for Harris Air’s application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. Harris Air i s based in Sitka, Alaska, and provides indispensable service to many of the fourteen communities I represent. And they don't just provide indispensable service; they do it with class, kindness, professionalism, and safety.

As you can quickly su rmise from glancing at the map, Southeast Alaska’s communities are separated by a wilderness of jagged mountains, deep fjords, and open ocean. Harris Air neutralizes these geographic barriers, connecting Alaska's remote nodes of civilization. Without Har ris Air's service, some of these communities would struggle to survive. If Harris Air’s service is not publicly convenient and necessary, I can hardly imagine what such a service would look like.

I know first

- hand. Harris Air is vital for my legislative wo rk. I need to travel to the island communities I represent that are speckled throughout the Southeast Alaska archipelago. Without Harris, my itineraries would resemble a latter

- day method of M edieval torture. Instead, I am blessed with fast and safe non

- st op service. I am one of hundreds, if not thousands, who so benefit.

But these are just words. Reading all these letters, gentle U.S. DOT employee, is probably tough work, and surely somewhat abstract. After all, Washington, D.C. is an awful long way from Southeast Alaska. Please allow me to enliven the process, and simultaneously provide enlightenment with regards to the high quality of Harris Air's pilots and service.

The morning of July 10, Rob Murray, a Harris Air pilot, was flying from Sitka to Angoon. Angoon has no airport. Harris provides indispensable floatplane service, transporting patients from the Native community of Angoon to the regional hospital in Sitka , as well as freight
, tourists, and o ccasionally legislators like me

. This particular morn ing, Rob was picking up Thomas Hamm of San Diego, California (among others). Just as he was about to set down his floats on the waters of Favorite Bay outside Angoon, ahumpback whale came to the surface in the direct path of his De Havilland Beaver. You'l l have to

watch the video to see what ensues, but darn if it's not a sterling example of aeronautic excellence. The YouTube video is appropriately titled "Whale vs Pontoon Plane

-- Angoon Alaska." Google will kindly assist you in finding this highly releva nt piece of video footage.

Harris A ir pilots know what they're doing. They fly safely. The whole operation, from pilots to mechanics to dispatchers, is friendly, down to earth, and care s about what they do and the people they serve. Southeast Alaska depen ds on their work. Help Southeast Alaska by helping Harris Air: please issue this certificate of public convenience and necessity to Harris Air.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Representative Jonathan Kreiss

- Tomkins