Faulk, Scott (OST) 

From: 

Sent: 

To: 

Subject: 

May, 9 2014 

Secretary Anthony Foxx 

Aaron Leach <aaroninkslinger@gmail.com> 

Friday, May 09, 2014 12:15 PM 

EAS (OST); Rebecca.Terrazas-Baxter@mail.house.gov 

Docket DOT -OST -2008-0299 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

RE: Docket DOT -OST -2008-0299 

Dear Secretary F oxx, 

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I write to express my concerns with the Department of Transportation's Tentative Order to terminate the 

Essential Air Service (EAS) program in El Centro, California located in Imperial County. 

Mr. Foxx I moved to the Imperial Valley in California only a year ago, but I did notice one thing almost 

immediately. The Imperial Valley has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, but this could be 

changed. At this moment there are solar and wind farms being built in the Imperial Valley, and they require 

skilled laborers. As more solar and wind farms are built, I only see this need increasing over time. These 

skilled laborers are coming in from outside of the Imperial Valley at this time, and they need a local airport to 

service many of their needs. There are local businesses in the area that also need a local airport to service their 

needs too. The Imperial Valley is made up of small businesses, and as we all know small businesses are the 

back bone of the American economy. 

At this time Sea Port Airlines is the only airline servicing the air travel needs of the Imperial Valley, which was 

5,950 passengers last year. Sea Port Airlines is a small business, and closing the Imperial County Airport would 

cost them the sale of those airline tickets. I am sure that isn't a whole lot of money if you compare it with the 

ticket sales of a much larger airline. It is a lot of revenue if you are a small airline like Sea Port. Today I see so 

many of the large airlines merging into even bigger airlines, and I feel that is cutting down on competition. We 

need to help out small airlines like Sea Port so that they may grow and become competition to the airline 

giants. The closing of the Imperial County Airport would also affect the other areas and states the Sea Port 

Airlines services, places like Pendleton Oregon, and Athens Georgia. 

The Imperial County Airport has a tremendous track record of surpassing the EAS program requirements put 

forth by the government, as they have dramatically exceeded the enplanement minimum in four of the last five 

fiscal years. Unfortunately, in FY 2013, the Imperial County Airport barely fell below the ten enplanement 

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threshold, by reaching 9.5 enplanements for the first time. As you know, the Essential Air Service was put into 

place to guarantee that small communities, including those within the Imperial County, continue to be served by 

certificated air carriers. 

As you prepare your final order, I hope that you consider the Imperial County Airports track record over the 

past few years as well as the economic impact to Sea port Airlines, the other airports the service, and the 

Imperial Valley. Thank you for your time in reading and considering my request. 

Sincerely, Aaron Leach 

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