NEIL ABERCROMBIE GOVERNOR

Mr. Dennis J. DeVany STATE OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 869 PUNCHBOWL STREET HONOLULU, HAWAII 96813-5097 May25,2011

Chief, Essential Air Service Division U.S. Department ofTransportation Office ofAviationAnalysis 400 Seventh Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20590 Dear Mr. De Vany: GLENN M. OKIMOTO DIRECTOR Deputy Directors FORD N. FUCHIGAMI

JAN S. GOUVEIA RANDYGRUNE JADINE URASAKI

IN REPLY REFER TO:

AIR-L 11.0088

The State ofHawaii, Department ofTransportation, Airports Division (DOT-A) operates the 15 airports in our island state. The airports are a critical link inthe transportation infrastructure vital to the economy ofthe islands. Ourresponsibility is to promote airtransportation in the service ofall the major islands. The airways are the state's "highways in the sky" between the islands. The EAS program is essential to meet the needs for air service to 

### temote and isolated communities such as Hana, Kalaupapa and Kamuela. ,'1 The DOT-Ahas long been concerned about the quality ofair**8ervic~** provided at Kalaupapaby Pacific Wings, the U.S. DOT's designated air carrierunder its Essential Air Service Program: 1. The community ofKalaupapa mustbe supported with good and dependable air se:..-vice due to its geographical isolation. : a. Air service int%ut ofthe Kalaupapa Settlement is the primarymeans oftransport for patients, health care workers, park employees and visitors. b. The only othermode oftransportation int%ut ofthis location is by walking a 2 

### 'l2 mile trail with 26 switchbacks up and down a 1,600 foot cliff. c. By sea, the settlement is servicedby an annual barge to bringin a year's worth of bulk supplies and equipment. 2. The State ofHawaii is' also responsible to care arld support the needs ofan ofthe patients through the state's Department ofHealth. a. Most ofthe patients travels are to Honolulu for medical visits. b. Passengers with mobility impamnents will not be able to travel to/from Kalaupapa without a lift or other level entry boarding device. c. Pacific Wings Airlines recently announced severe restrictions to providing special accortlmodalions to support the carriage ofdisabled passengers.

### Mr. Dennis J. 

### DeVany May 25, 2011 Page 2 AIR-L 11.0088

d. While federal regulations do not require air carriers with less than 19 seats or airports with under 10,000 enplanements to provide passenger lifts when aircraft entryboarding is not available, it is an appropriate and proper and rightfully expected level ofcustomer service for any air carrier servicing the Kalaupapa community. 3. The level ofservice that should be expected from any EAS providerto these remote communities, especially Kalaupapa must include: a. Reasonable fares/frequency offlights/available seats. b. Ability to accommodate mobility impaired passengers. As a public organization, the State ofHawaii, DOT can make reasonable suggestions, recommendations and comments on expected levels and quality ofservice bythe current EAS provider. DOT-A fully supports the Orderrequestingproposals to provide Essential Air Service to Kalaupapa. Competition should result in the proper and needed level ofservice to this unique community. Should you have any questions, please contact Mr. 

### Roy Sakata, Airports Operations Officer, at (808) 838-8607. Very truly yours,

# ~~~ GLENN M. OKIMOTO, Ph.D. Director ofTransportation