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# v e n o o rn-^r n c/: > Devany , Denni s (OST ) From : Marti n Moe [cordovachamber@ak.net] Sent : Thursday , Januar y13 , 201 1 4:1 6 P M To : LaHood , Ra y(OST ) Cc : Kurland , Susa n (OST) ; Devany , Denni s (OST) ; Sean.parnell@alasl<a.gov ; Marc.luil<e n @ alaska.gov-co m m issione r Subject : EA S Suppor t 

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^ -..*-.- - * « Cordovi K Alaska9957 4 (907)424-726 0 • F^a

x(907 ) 424-725 9 www.cordovachamber.co m CORDOV A" ALASKA' S HIDDE NTREASUR E 

### Januar y 13 , 201 1 Th e Honorabl e RayLaHoo d Secretary U.S . Departmen t of Transportatio n 120 0 Ne wJerse yAvenue , S.E . Washington , D.C . 2059 0 Re : Continuatio n o f Alask a Airlines ' Essentia l Ai rServic e a t Cordova . Gustavus . Petersburg . Wranaell . an d Yakutat . Alaska . Docke t OST-1998-489 9 Dea rSecretaryLaHood : Thi s lette ri s t o expres s ou rstron g suppor t fo rth e selectio n ofAlask a Airline s t o continu e t o provid e essentia l ai rservic e t o ou rcommunity . Th e je t servic e Alask a currentl yprovide s i s critica l fo rth e continue d acces s an d economi cwel l bein g o f Cordov a a s wel l a s tha t o f thi s entir e regio n o fth e state . A s a landlocke d rura l community , Cordov a relie s heavil yo n ai rtranspor t t o provid e resident s an d visitor s alik e wit h acces s t o an d fro m th e "outsid e world. " Alaska' s curren t patter n of servic e - usin g moder n je t aircraf t - meet s severa l crucia l need s tha t woul d b e difficult . I f no t Impossible , t o mee t wit h an yothe rtyp e o fservic e o raircraf t type :

•Alaska' s servic e connect s Cordov a passenger s t o on e o rmor e majo rcommunitie s ofinterest , wit h dall y single-plan e servic e t o Anchorage , Juneau , Ketchika n o rSeattle . Fro m thes e hubs , ou rcommunit yca n acces s th e airline' s extensiv e rout e syste m an d benefi t fro m It s far-reachin g marketin g relationships . Ou r visito rindustryrelie s o n thes e connection s t o brin g peopl e here . •Alaska' s servic e provide s essentia l carg o (freigh t an d mail ) capacit yrequire d t o mee t man yo fou r community' s dall ynecessities . I n addition , Alask a annuall ycarrie s approximatel y1,500,00 0 pound s o ffis h fro m Cordov a t o th e marketplace s of th e world - providin g a n Irreplaceabl e lin k I n ou rcommercia l fishin g economy . Alask a ha s demonstrate d It s commitmen t t o mee t th e airfreigh t need s ofth e communitie s I n th e stat e b yinvestin g I n th e first-eve rflee t o f 737-40 0 combinatio n aircraft . Thes e mor e moder n 737 s replace d th e olde r737-20 0 comb i aircraf t i n Alaska' s flee t an d provid e Improve d access , capacit yan d comfort fo r airlin e passenger s i n Southeas t Alaska . •Alaska' s investmen t I n require d navigatio n performanc e (RNP ) fligh t technolog yallow s acces s t o airport s i n Southeas t Alask a durin g period s o f Inclemen t weather , whic h enhance s th e reliabilit yo fth e airline' s servic e

### t o ou rcommunity . I n sum , Alaska' s je t servic e I s critica l t o th e economi can d socia l wel l bein g o fou r community . Fo rthes e reasons , w

e respectfull yurg e DO

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t Alask a Airline s t o continu e t o provid e essentia l ai r service t o Southeast Alaska , as th e airlin e has successfull ydon e fo rmor e tha n thirtyyears . Sincerely , Marti n H . Moe , Executive Directo r cc : Susa n Kurland , Assistan t Secretar yfo rAviatio n an d Internationa l Affair s Denni s DeVany , Chief , EA S an d Domesti cAnalysi s Th e Honorabl e Sea n Parnell , Governor , Stat e o fAlask a Mar cA . Luiken , Commissioner , Alask a Stat e Departmen t o

fTransportatio n an d Publi cFacilitie s