BEFORE THE

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

WASHINGTON, D.C.

_____________________________________

)

Application of )

)

Harris Aircraft Services, Inc. )

) DOCKET: OST-2013-0089

for authority to conduct scheduled passenger )

operations as a commuter air carrier under )

49 U.S.C. 41738 )

_____________________________________)

WITHDRAWL OF APPLICATION OF

HARRIS AIRCRAFT SERVICES, INC.

FOR COMMUTER AIR CARRIER AUTHORITY

Communications with respect to this document should be addressed to:

Robert S. Harris

Harris Aircraft Services, Inc.

400 Airport Road

Sitka, AK 99835

Tel. 907-966-3050

Email: scott@harrisair.com

President,

Harris Aircraft Services, Inc.

Dated: April 7, 2014
BEFORE THE

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

WASHINGTON, D.C.

_____________________________________

)

Application of )

)

Harris Aircraft Services, Inc. )

) DOCKET: OST-2013-0089

for authority to conduct scheduled passenger )

operations as a commuter air carrier under )

49 U.S.C. 41738 )

_____________________________________)

WITHDRAWAL OF APPLICATION OF

HARRIS AIRCRAFT SERVICES, INC.

FOR COMMUTER AIR CARRIER AUTHORITY

On May 8, 2013 Harris Aircraft Services, Inc. (“Harris Air” or “the company”) filed 

an application for authority to operate scheduled passenger service as a commuter air carrier 

under section 41738 of Title 49 of the United States Code (“the Statute”).

Since submitting this application, a protest and petition to dismiss the application has 

been filed by Pacific Airways, Inc. (twice) and Air Excursions LLC has filed its opposition to 

the issuance of authority. Both companies cite failure to comply with 14 CFR 204 and 14 

CFR 302. Both also take issue with the ability of Harris to conduct scheduled operations.

The recent protest by Pacific Airways again claims that Harris is wrong in its service 

of Application upon the airport authority of each point proposed for service. It is apparent 

that our list of airport managers in the region is faulty and for the sake of “transparency and 

public notice” Harris would appreciate if counsel for Pacific Airways could forward the name 

of the airport manager in Kake or any of the floatplane facilities in the region. Again, we 

concluded that our service was correct in that it was submitted to the Office of Statewide 

Aviation in Juneau which is listed on the departments’ website as serving the State Owned 

Public Airports-Southeast Region.

The Opposition filed by Air Excursions addresses the recent loss of the Air 

Ambulance Aircraft Services contract and concludes that it should be a basis of denying its 

request for economic authority. The contract for air ambulance certainly does not require 

economic authority nor does it require an air carrier certificate. The SCO incorrectly states 

that Harris requested commuter authority to conduct expanded scheduled passenger 

operations as a result of the air medical services contract. In reality the expanded service is a 

result of the routine patient and staff travel contract which is still in effect. 
Both Air Excursions and Pacific Airways contend that Harris Air is not fit financially to 

conduct commuter operations and therefore should not be granted the authority. Each also 

contends that Harris Air is somehow conducting illegal operations. Pacific Airways states 

that “The review of FAA actions shows that Harris is fit to be what it is, an on demand air 

taxi, and nothing more.” It is not clear which FAA actions were reviewed but had counsel for 

either Pacific Airways or Air Excursions contacted the FAA it would have been noted that 

we are a Commuter Air Operator and have the authority to conduct scheduled operations to 

the airports listed in our application. As for economic fitness, we maintain that we are more 

than capable and believe the department would agree. That being said, the lawsuit between 

SEARHC and Harris is time consuming and a financial burden. We are preparing for a busy 

summer season, investing in engines, propellers and hiring summer staff. It is not the time of 

year to present financial information. At this point it is my intent to concentrate on our 

ongoing commuter service to the airports we listed on our application and reapply for 

economic authority at a later date.

Wherefore, Harris Aircraft Services, Inc. requests that the department withdraw its 

application for economic authority to conduct scheduled passenger operations as a commuter 

air carrier.

Respectfully submitted,

Robert S Harris,

Harris Aircraft Services, Inc.

400 Airport Road

Sitka, AK 99835

Tel. 907-966-3050

Email: scott@harrisair.com

President, Harris Aircraft Services, Inc
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, Robert S. Harris hereby certify that on this 7

th day of April, 2014 I served via US 

Mail the foregoing withdrawal of Application of Harris Aircraft Services, Inc. on the 

following person:

Federal Aviation Administration Robert E. Cohn

Juneau Flight Standards District Office Patrick R. Rizzi

ATTN: Brian Frederick, Hogan Lovells US LLP

3032 Vintage Part Blvd. Columbia Square

Suite 106 555 Thirteenth St, NW

Juneau, AK 99801 Washington, DC 20004

Email:brian.n.frederick@faa.gov

Kent Craford Hank Meyers

Air Excursions LLC MTC

1873 Shell Simmons Dr. PO Box 7142

Suite 110 Bellevue, WA 98008-1142

Juneau, AK 99801

Steve Montanus

Pacific Airways, Inc

PO Box 5158

Ketchikan, AK 99901-0158