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June 15,2011 "CK^i OPERATIONS 

Dennis DeVany ;'0|! y ^ Jb A iO- 0 1 

Essential Air Service Chief US DOT 

EAS and Domestic Analysis Div. 

1200 New Jersey Ave SE 

W86-471 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re: Docket DOT-OST-2011-4-7- Essential Air Service Opening For Kalaupapa. Island of 

Molokai, Hawaii 

Dear Mr. DcVany: 

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Essential Air Service (EAS) Request for 

Proposal (RFP) opening for Kalaupapa, Molokai Island, Hawaii. Docket DOT-OST-2011-4-7. 

Kalaupapa is a remote, rural location that can only be accessed by airplane or a 2000 foot high, 

26 switch-back foot trail. The Kalaupapa patient population ranges in age from 69 to 87 and 

many residents are unable to easily use the trail. Therefore, air service is critical to the 

movement of people to and from the Settlement. 

All Kalaupapa residents and visitors to here want lower air fares similar to the average for other 

airfares to and firim the rest of Molokai Island. Kalaupapa residents want and need 7 day a week 

service, especially to topside Molokai on Friday afternoon and back to Kalaupapa Sunday 

aftemoon to accommodate workers and weekend tourists. 

The selected provider should have a schedule that permits residents to go out in the morning and 

return in the late afternoon for medical appointments and shopping, plus a raid-day flight to 

Honolulu to accommodate the visitor and business traffic. 

Service from a provider that has a positive safety record in Hawaii, is financially stable, able to 

provide EAS service for the 2-year contract period, and a track record operating schedtiled 

commercial services with positive on-time service records in Hawaii is also desirable. 

The chosen provider should also provide other necessities, like wheel chair accessible equipment 

and aircraft that can easily accommodate wheelchair restricted passengers. 

Finally, the provider should have aircraft capable of operating within the airport restrictions (9 

passenger maximum) with enough equipment to keep reliable and on-time service operating 

during all seasons of the year. 

The current provider, Pacific Wings, does provide consistent, on time service to schedule, but 

their fares have worked contrary to the reasons for EAS. In the past three years since they raised 

rates over 250%^ the total load carried has dwindled &om over 3,000 annually to as low as 

around 900 this past year. 

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In addition, assertions have been made that fares are unimportant to patients since the 

Department of Health pays for their air travel. Patients are given medical costs for travel, but all 

travel done on personal business, all their family and friends travel and all the tourists that come 

into the settlement by commercial carrier to interact with the community all pay the high fare 

now charged. 

Thank you for this opportunity to comment on the EAS RFP for Kalaupapa. 

Sincerely, 

The Below Signed Patients of Kalaupapa 

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