## Qi:ongre.6,6 of tlpelllnihb**~tate.6** 

### lIiuslJingtnn , lor 20515

The Honorable 

### Ray laHood Secn:tary Department of Transportation 1200 New Jer.;ey Ave, SE Washington, DC 20590 Dear Secretary laHood : Janwuy 22, 2010 

### SIO·IOOlc5·005

As the Department of Transportation wads to produce new rules on pilot flight, duty, 

### and rest limitations, 

### we are writing to express our concerns that a broad, one size 

### fits all approach would severely limit the abi lity of cOlIU1lercial airlines to provide national security, humanitarian relief and 

### other important governmentaJ missions. We urge the Department to include a common sense approach for nonscheduled carrier.; in any proposed rule 

### in this 

### area so that these important 

### fimctions will not he jeopardized. We share your commitment to new rules that reflect today ' s aircraft operational abilities
. However, we believe that the new rules should also account for the operational differences between-hub and spoke domestic operations and nonscheduled and other long -haul operations. As you know, nonscheduled or charter operations include domestic and international p assenger and all-cargo operations that 

### fi n the void for those siruations that the regularly scheduled passenger operators cannot provide. The' se carriers " provide important commercial business**openitions ~**  often to locations not otherwise served by U.S
. scheduled airlines. In addition, nonscheduled operators provide vital air mobility for national security
. providing critical air transportation of military personnel and cargo . In testimony before the House Aviation SuheOlnmittee, USTRANSCOM Commander General DUnCIDI'McNabb testified that the current commitment of Civil Reserve Air Fleet (C RAF) air carriers prov ides 40.6 million ton
-miles/day in bulk cargo capacity and nearly 200 million passenger miles/day. USTRANSCOM typically plans for CRAF carriers to move about 40 percent ofthe military cargo and 90**~t** of the passengm dnring both peacetime and 

### war. The vast majority of these CRAF**mi~ions** are performed by nonSchCduled passenger"and " eargo 

### airlines. In so doing. ttley must at all times meet their DOT and FAA re gul ations and operating specifications. Nonscheduled airlines also provide valuable support in humanitarian relief operations
. both nationally and gJobally. These flights are performed both hefon: and after natural disasters such as evacuations before hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis. and floods
. Flights into an are a both before and after such disasters arc usually perfonned when scheduled operations have been terminated. Operating into an area with significant di sruptions at airports has unique and unexpected support challenges and requires flexibility both with airport support facilities and air carrier operations. It is well known that nonscheduled carriers also provide critical access to air transportation in a number of other important areas , from prisoner transports to domestic and international flights with significant national security implications. The Department should avoid an inflexible approach that may serve to adversely affect physical or national security.

PlU NTEO ON RfCVCU D**~AI"fR**Secretary 

### LaHoood Re: Nonscheduled air carriers 

### January 22, 20 I0 Page 2 of2 

### SI0-IOOI25-005

If the Department were to propose rules that required all commercial air carriers to meet the same flight and duty limitations, these very critical missions could not be carried out in a timely and responsive manner. It is important that the Department consider these types of operations and provide real and meaningful rules that provide a similar level of safety within the Part 121 cOITlrmmity. Such rules should also provide realistic scheduling opportunities for these nonscheduled carriers perfomting the critical missions described above. We appreciate your consideration of our views as you prepare these new rules. We look forward to working with you to ensure that we continue to have a safe and reliable air transportation system. Sincerely,



### Howard Coble**M~ml>er** 

### of Congress Member of Congress

Member of Congress



# - Sullivan eml>er of Congress