U.S. Department of 

Transportation 

Office of the Secretary 

Of Transportation 

The Honorable Earl L. (Buddy) Carter 

Georgia Senate 

Atlanta, GA 30334 

Dear Mr. Carter: 

. ; 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, 
EARL L. (BUDDY) CARTER 

District 1 

P.O. Box222 

Pooler, Georgia 31322 

Tel: (912) 604-5149 

421-B State Capitol 

Atlanta, Georgia 30334 

Tel: (404) 656-5109 

Fax: (404) 651-6768 

E-mail: Buddy.Carter@senate.ga.gov 

Brooke Chapman 

Associate Director 

The State Senate 

Atlanta, Georgia 30334 

July 23, 2013 

Small Community Air Service Development 

Office of Aviation of Analysis 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

Re: Small Community Air Service Development Program 

Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120 

Dear Ms. Chapman: 

COMMITTEES: 

CHAIRMAN, Public Safety 

Appropriations 

Health and Human Services 

Higher Education 

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. 

Sincerely, 

Senator Earl L. (Buddy) Carter