U.S. Department of 

Transportation 

Office of the Secretary 

Of Transportation 

The Honorable Dr. Lester G. Jackson, III 

Georgia Senate 

Atlanta, GA 30334 

Dear Dr. Jackson: 

-, i' 

1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E. 

Washington, DC 20590 

Thank you for your letter supporting the application submitted by the Savannah/Hilton Head 

International Airport for a grant under the U.S. Department of Transportation's Small 

Community Air Service Development Program. 

The Small Community Air Service Development Program was established to help smaller 

communities address air service deficiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares or 

insufficient service. Under the statute, the Department may make a maximum of 40 grant 

awards each year, although no more than four awards may be to communities in the same State. 

In order to provide communities with latitude in developing solutions to their air service 

deficiencies, the statute provides flexibility in the types of projects that can be funded. 

On June 24, the Department issued an order setting a deadline of July 26 for applications. As 

these grant requests are pending before the Department, I cannot comment on the merits of any 

particular proposal. I assure you that the Department will give full and fair consideration to all 

proposals that have been properly filed. 

As is our standard practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and this response in Docket 

DOT-OST-2013-0120 as a contact outside the record of this matter. I appreciate your interest in 

this program. 

Sincerely yours, 

c · te Director 

unity Air Service Development 
DR. LESTER G. JACKSON III 

DEMOCRATIC DEPUTY WHIP 

Senator, District 2 

-;1.501 Abercorn Street 

Savannah, Georgia 31401 

Tel: (912) 233-3345 

206 Wa;;hington Street, S.W. 

Suite 432 State Capitol 

Atlanta, Georgia 30334 

Tel: (404) 463-5261 

Fax: (404) 463-5547 

E-mail: lester:jackson@senate.ga.gov 

Ms. Brooke Chapman 

Associate Director 

Small Community Air Service Development 

Office of Aviation Of Analysis 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Room W86-307 

l' 

July 25, 2013 

Re: S~all Community Air Service Development Program 

Docket DOT-OST-2'013-0120 

Dear Ms. Chapman: 

COMMITTEES: 

Agriculture & Consumer Affair~ 

Economic Development 

Health & Human Services 

.. Higher Education 

Urban Affairs 

I am pleased to support the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport's request for the Department of 

Transportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program Grant. Supporting the Airport's objective of 

attracting affordable air service to our region will benefit both Savannah and the surrounding area's tourism and 

economic growth. 

The airport is currently in discussions with JetBlue Airways to bring service to Savannah/Hilton Head 

International. The presence of a new airline at SA V would play a major role in satisfying the needs of residents and 

visitors alike and would have a positive effect on Hilton Head Island and the surrounding communities. 

I hope that the highest consideration will be given to the Airport's application for this grant in an effort to 

improve our local air service for the benefit of business and leisure travelers alike. It is crucial that all communities 

have access to a national air transportation system with competitive options without compromise by higher average 

airfares when compared to other communities. 

Respectfully, 

~·· ~-~-f1 <:..- ---~~: ..-~~ ~ . 'IS!y. '. ~ . '1?-

v 

Dr. Lester G. Jackson, III 

State Senator, District 2