November 5, 2014 

Mr. Todd Homan Director, Office of Aviation Analysis 

US Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

(Letter sent via email to: michael.gormas@dot.gov) 

Re: USDOT Determination 80-1-167 Essential Air Service 

Mr. Holman: 

Peter M. Crandall 

Juneau, AK 99801 

Email:······· 

I am a resident of Juneau, Alaska but spend more than half my time at my cabin in Tenakee Springs, Alaska. 

depend on the safe and reliable services of Alaska Seaplanes to travel frequently between the two communities. 

am required to attend numerous board meetings in Anchorage and Seattle and depend on reliable air service 

from Tenakee Springs to Juneau to make connections to those cities. Tenakee Springs is guaranteed scheduled air 

service under the 1978 Airline Deregulation Act, as provided by the US Department ofTransportation's (USDOT) 

Essential Air Service program. Further, USDOT Determination 80-1-167 stipulates that Angoon, Tenakee Springs 

and Pelican are entitled to essential air service to and from Juneau. It is my understanding that the US 

Department of Transportation is considering changing the designated "air service hub" from Juneau to Sitka. 

Juneau, not Sitka, is the transportation hub for northern Southeast Alaska communities. Currently only one flight 

/day goes from Sitka to Seattle or Anchorage without going through or connecting to another flight in Juneau. 

People from Tenakee Springs need frequent and dependable transportation to Juneau in order to seek necessary 

services from private businesses and government agencies only found in a larger city, like Juneau. Tenakee 

residents need to travel to Juneau for health care services including services provided by Bartlett Regional 

Hospital. Some people work in or out of Juneau but live in Tenakee and depend on Seaplanes to commute to 

those jobs. Service providers, repair/utility technicians, government representatives based in Juneau fly to 

Tenakee to provide essential services to this small and remote town. Alaska Seaplanes not only provides reliable 

transportation for locals and visitors but also promptly delivers our mail, UPS packages, perishable groceries, 

medications, freight, etc. Our local grocer frequently relies on float plane service to deliver perishable groceries 

from suppliers in Juneau to his store. Tenakee's commercial fishermen fly their fresh catch directly to Juneau 

buyers. Tenakee's few inns and charter fishing businesses depend on reliable flights to and from Juneau. Their 

clients may fly in from the Lower 48 to Juneau, take a side trip off a cruise ship or want to get away from Juneau 

for a weekend. 

The connection between Tenakee Springs and Juneau is historic and essential. Please reaffirm our guarantee 

under the Essential Air Service program of access to the longstanding Juneau air service hub, and expeditiously 

approve the proposal of Alaska Seaplanes to continue serving our community for no less than another four year 

term. 

Sincerely, 

Peter M. Crandall 
Cc: 

The Honorable Mark Begich 

United States Senate 

Suite 308 

One Sealaska Plaza 

Juneau, AK 99801 

Sally Smith@begich.senate.gov 

The Honorable Don Young 

US House of Representatives 

4241 B Street 

Suite 203 

Anchorage, AK 99503 

Chad. Padgett@mail. house. gov 

The Honorable Lisa Murkowski 

United States Senate 

800 Glacier Avenue 

Suite 101 

Juneau, AK 99801 

kevin sweeney@murkowski.senate.gov 

The Honorable Don Pegues, Mayor 

Tenakee Springs, AK 99841 

Don Pegues, Mayor <citytke@gmail.com> 

Mike Stedman & Kent Craford, Alaska Seaplanes, LLC 

1873 Shell Simmons Dr. 

Suite 110 

Juneau, AK 99801 

info@flyalaskaseaplanes.com