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MICHIGAN nOCV^ 

, ,.,r- 600 >ouih U'aliiui Sutci | Lansing, Michigan 48933-2200 

••••! 1 'iJ^ , michambiTcom | 800-7-18-0266 toll-free 

of Commerce 

February 6, 2012 

\' \i 

Dockcl Mniiagciiicnl Facility 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave SE 

West Building Ground Floor, Room \V12-140 

Washington, DC 20590 

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Tlic'purpose'of^his Iciicr is to^iTddrcss Sun CountrT''s rcqucsTfor an cxcnipiion from ihc'slot limit 

for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) set forth in 93.123(a), to permit the FAA 

to create air carrier slots during certain limited hours for Sun Country's use. The proposed air 

carrier slots would replace two slot exemptions under DOT Order 2010-12-16 awarded to Sun 

Country. On January 6, 201 2, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia 

Circuit vacated the DOT order, and Sun Country will lose its existing service between DCA and 

Lansing's Capital Region International Airport. Specifically, Sun Country desires one daily slot 

each during each of the 1000 and 1100 hours. The jiroposcd exemption would iicnnit Sun 

Coimiry to continue operating its existing services and avoid an inequitable resLili of the Court's 

order.;^"t.; )•;'.; c-i.; i 

!';[Ci! ,-1 r:-'.]'.': . , 

As'lhe-Hrcsidenl'an'cl ^CEO of a statewide Chamber of Commerce rcpresciuing over 6,600 

coinpanies^a'nd 1'.4 million employees, we understand that job creation and economic growth are 

vital'toMichigan's continued recovery. Maving good airports with convenient schedides to 

[jopular destinations is key, not only to the economic growth of the Lansing area, but also to the 

entire mid-MiGhiganjarca [haL..lhc iLniising-airpori scn'ices. • 

Jill 11 i;i;j.:;f ;!••[;•, ••.i.ii>' • • •.•. •.; ILM ; f.vi.uji.'ii'jrj -n • rr. ' ,'.. , ()•'!';:. " •• •![! •)(, /M i ;-, c;, : .i • 

The Michigan Chamber of Commerce has a long standing tradition of supporting transportation 

infrastructure nrour state.:;Having qualit)' airports serving both the business and tourism sectors 

to areas like Washington DG:is critical. The Sun Country service is essential to the economic 

growth of the iLansing'area. The daily service is the^only large aircraft (737-800) service to 

Washington Reagan Airport, in the stale of Michigan, outside of Detroit. Prior to Sun Country, the 

regional community had rcc|ucsted the introduction of this ser\'ice-froni-numerous other oj^ciiUois 

without success. Sun Country has fulfilled this request admirably. Therefore, it is critical that the 

FAA take the ncccssar)' steps to ensure the continuation of the Sun Country slots at the 

established flight times. Failure to.take this action-will,have a negative effect on business and 

econoinic:growth.in our state.- ;..n i',•(!.!, . .•JL' • :i., ..; .. . .; ••. 

'''•'•' / ' ' ; ' • •' • f ••' " •Jj.' ' : • •; '• ' ' I ; 'J'.:;.;. ' ; IJ ^ : ; J'M-'', ' -.^jLCjii ; ' [,.•:; ; i 'J.,••(::..-i'. , .\y . , •• . • '• , 

Your ininiediaic approval of this exemption so that Sun Countr\' can begin to enter flights 

scheduled for;ih_c:bal?,nce,ofj20^'2 |WilUbc:greatIy appreciated. 

Sincerely.'i.iJ' ' • -.;/ '^j:.(:\->i-.i\ ;.-.:. i.-.r.:.':.• ; "^•.;;'^? ^•;i~--; •"'!.(:;• , ,j - Cw^v ' •,, • ••.: '<•:•(.„:', 

/y''••^'••^ ^ iQh'-'ijJjO: ; (.•J,;.;;.v.(;:^..^ //•;. •vjf:',:.c::;i:' - .;;;: | ''.-,•, -;].-.•,.•: ! :. r ; :,-..- . --- c ui'j.r-r J ;: ' 

iu^ Rich Studley 

•President and CEO 

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Leading Businesses. Moving Michigan Forward.