PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND 

SCIENCE CENTER 

t.._9_.!_o.P_Y *, *.V-*-*.-•!-.* 

ACTIO N 

SlO-l 10119-007 

CONTROL NO. 

January 14, 2011 

The Honorable Ray LaHood, Secretary 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

'G 'rt*-

T-4- Re: Continuation of Alaska Airlines' Essential Air Service at Cordova. Gustavus. Petersburg. Wraneell. an£rr~^(~:> 

T7~. . . . _ . ' . '— ' —^ —/-I Yakutat. Alaska. Docket OST-1998-4899 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

en 

I am writing in strong support for the continuation of the Essential Air Service agreement with Alaska Airlines to 

provide daily service to Southcentral and Southeast communities. There are multiple reasons for renewal of this 

EAS agreement, particularly in this economic climate. 

It is critical to our local economy to have daily jet service in both directions, north and south, i have lived in 

Cordova since 1976 and have seen many smaller commuter airlines come and go while Alaska Airlines' regular and 

reliable service has been a mainstay for the community. The freight service is essential for both delivery of fresh 

goods into Cordova and also for shipping of fresh fish products out of our city. Alaska Airlines' investment in 

required navigation performance (RNP) flight technology allows access to our airport and others in SE Alaska 

during the many days of inclement weather which we experience. The smaller commuter flights are often unable 

to land on those days which can sometimes last for a week or more. 

The Prince William Sound Science Center relies on Alaska Airlines for 75 percent of our travel requirements. Our 

staff of 18-20 regularly use its services to get to professional meetings and/or to bring colleagues to Cordova for 

scientific field work and/or meetings here. 

Additional reasons renewal of this EAS agreement is important include: (a) the importance of maintaining jet 

service in order to attract a growing tourist market to Cordova; (b) the greater capacity offered by jet service for 

passengers, freight and mail; (c) the single-plane linkage to their principal communities of interest—Anchorage, 

Juneau, Ketchikan and Seattle as the case may be; and (d) the reliability and long history of Alaska Airlines' service 

to Cordova, Yakutat and the other communities in Southeast Alaska. 

We appreciate the commitment Alaska Airlines demonstrated several years ago by investing in the first ever fleet 

of 737-400 combination aircraft. These more modern 737s replaced the older 737-200 combi aircraft in Alaska's 

fleet and provide improved access, capacity, safety and comfort for airline passengers in Southeast Alaska. 

Thank you for this opportunity to comment. I look forward to learning of your decision. 

Sincerely, 

Nancy Bird 

President 

cc: Susan Kurland, Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs 

Dennis DeVany, Chief, EAS and Domestic Analysis 

The Honorable Sean Parnell, Governor, State of Alaska 

Marc A. Luiken, Commissioner, Alaska State Department of Transportation and Public Facilities 

P.O. Box 705 - Cordova, Alaska 99574 - (907) 424-5800 x 225 - fax (907) 424-5820 

nbird@>pwssc.org - www.pwssc.org