CHALUKA 

CORPORATION 

May 9,2010 

ADOT ' 1 

Leo von Scheben, Conmiissioner 

P.O. Box 11^500 ; ' 

Juneau, Alaska 99811 r2500 ^ _ '; 

' • " ' \ - • . ' . 

Dear Mr. von Scheben: 

\ would like to write this letter from the standpoint of a private citizen from Nikolski, 

Alaska and as the President for the village corporation, Chaluka Corporation. 

I purchased a round trip nonrefundable ticket from Pen Air to go from Anchorage to 

Nikolski on March 29,2010. The flight left Anchorage on time and arrived in Dutch 

Harbor at 12:30 p.m. I met my Mother in Dutch Harbor and we were scheduled to fly 

from Dutch Harbor to Nikolski.' After all the Anchorage flights4eft Dutc|i Harbor to 

return to Anchorage and Akutan flights were taken care of. Pen Air attempted to make 

the fligfit to Nikolski in their Grumman Goose. We were airborne for fifteen minutes 

then tiimed around to head back to Dutch Harbor. We ran into a massive snow squall. 

After deplaning, we were told to cheCk in with the ticket agent at 10:00 a.m. tlie next day, 

March 30. , _ ^ ' 

Needless to say, we checked with the ticket agent for several days. Due to bad weather 

between Dutch Harbor and Nikolski, tide flight jiever happened uhtil Aprill3,2010. By 

this time, there were more passengers that arrived into Dutch Harbor to go to Nikolski. 

There were a total of six ^sengers to go to Nikolski. The flight did happen on April 13, 

but we were told We could bnly take up to fifteen pounds of hand carry. Two^of the 

passengers were a crew that Chaluka Corporation hired to do some renovations at our 

"hotel" so they had to take their tobls with them. It did not make sense for them to travel 

without their tools as they would not be able to get their work done.^ My briefcase alone 

was thirty five poiinds. The corporation had also hired a consultant for a project t^at was 

currently happening in Nikolski. He had his briefcase also and weighed about twenty , 

pounds. I made an executive decision to let him and I stay back in Dutch Harbor uhtil we 

could take pur briefcases and suitcases along with us. My Mother and the cook that 

Chaluka Corporation hired for the project that was happening and the two contractors 

were the passengers that w?r^ on the April 13* flight to Nikolski. My Mother's baggage 

is stijl sitting in Dutch Harbor waiting to get to Nikolski. 

Unfortunately fdi- the cpttsul^t and me, pfter waiting for seven more days, we 

ihat We shoula liead i)ack to Aiichoii^ge since we were riot ^oirig to be able td ri 

decided 

riiakethe 

RECEIVED 

MAY 1 7 2010 

DOT & PF Commissioner 

RO. Box 104 • Nikolski, Alaska 99638 

Phone (907) 576-2216 • Fax (907) 576-2203 TRACK #10-8009 
flight out to Nikolski any time soon. Besides the consultant was scheduled to depart 

Nikolski on April 19*, and head back to Minnesota on April 22"** with a layover in Dutch 

Harbor. ^ , ' 

Before I headed out to Dutch Harbor, I faxed a grocery list to Safeway in Dutch Harbor 

and asked them to fill the order and send it to Nikolski by April 1,2010. It was filled and 

taken over to Pen Air cargo. I paid for the freight with my credit card. 

Upon my return to Anchorage on Apnl 19,2010,1 made arrangements to charter ACEAlaska Central Express, to haul the groceries that Chaluka had ordered for the April 1, 

2010 flight and any freight that was for the Native Stor& in Nikolski. If ihe /corporation 

did not charter that flight, the groceries would still be in Pen Air's cargo o^ce. On that 

charter, Chaluka had less than a thousand pounds of freight. I have an ACE airway bill 

that charged Chaluka Corporation for 4,340 pounds of frei^t. I understand that Pen Air . 

did make a flight out to Nikolski after thei ACE charter with more passengers but they 

were not able to take their luggage with them. If Chaluka didnot charter ACE, fhose 

groceries would still be in Dutch Harbor. 

The whole basis of my trip out to Nikolski was to get work done that >vas crucial before a 

May 1,2010 deadline. Since I was not able to get out to Nikolski during the construction 

of the fence, I am going to have to rely on^ e contractors that were hired by the 

corporation to hopefiilly make sive that it was constructed to tihe federal contract 

specifications. - , i ' / \ 

I do understand that safety is first arid foremost for Pen Air. I believe that thb pilot " 

knows what he is doing and makes decisions according to the weather. While I was 

wauting to get to Nikolski, the Goose never left the hangar for several days. I do not think 

it even went to Akutan. ' ^ 

I understand that Pen Air has the Essential Air Service for Nikolski. There has not been 

any mail that has gone to Nikolski since March 25, 2010. I know this because the three 

passengers that came out of Anchorage for Nikolski were told that the Goose had a 

mechanical and were told not to come down to Dutch Harbor on April 12, 2010. The 

Nikolski passengers opted to come out to Dutch Harbor believing Ihat the Goose would 

get fixed in a short period oftime and would be heading out to Nikolski. I was 

"stranded" in Dutch Harbor fof 22 days waiting for Pen Air to take me to Nikolski. 

There was a guy that was l^eading out to Nikolski and Fort Glenn to fix the intemet out 

there. Bering Pacific Ranches ended up taking him to Nikolski and Fort Glenn in their 

helicopter. I do hope that guy was able to get some of his nonrefundable ticket back. 

Nikolski may not be a "money" maker for Pen Air but we are people living in that 

village. It is difficult for people in Nikolski to make their doctor appointments, getting 

their medication refilled, and everi paying their bills on time. Chaluka Corporation has a 

vested interest in the lodge that is out there also. If clients are unable to make it out to 

Nikolski on Pen Air, then the lodge loses money. We cannot pharter the clients out there 

all the time. 
The only times that people are able to get out of Nikolski is when a charter shows up. 

That can get costly for individuals. I am sure they pay seat fare but why should they 

when Pen Air is scheduled to make flights out there? 

In closing, I would like to get a response from someone that will make a difference for 

the village of Nikolski. We are in dire need of help with fransportation in a timely 

maimer. Something has to be done and this situation addressed by Pen Air, FAA, DOT, 

heck even the Governor should get involved. 

1 am going to patiently wait for a response from someone that cares to resolve this issue 

or help to fix tihe problm. Thiank you for your time. 

Sincerely, ' , 

Dora Johiisdn, President 

Chaluka Corporation 

cc: PenAir, Daimy Seybert, President 

U.S. Postal Service, Postmaster 

U.S. Postal Service, Diane Horbochuk, AK District Manager 

ADOT, Leo von Schebeui Commissioner 

USDOT, FAA Alaska Region Airports Division, AAL-600, Byron K. Huffman .