Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

I'd wager that a significant portion of these EAS routes are being flown by 121 carriers, which negates low time jobs...

 

Alaska is so rich, from natural resources revenues, that they actually heat their sidewalks in some major cities AND the state sends a royalty check to each of their residents every year.

If Alaskans want E.A.S., they can pay for it out on their own.

 

bye felecia

 

@slick111 you mean the heated sidewalks they can't afford to turn on? This state has spent so much money its ridiculous. Well, now there's no money left. This is beginning to get off topic.

 

I feel like this is relevant to the topic at hand.

 

Right up to the point where you have to drive 3 hours for your chemo treatments. The people who benefit from EAS are the same people who grow the grains for bread and raise the cows that you put on your bun, as well as the corn in your gasoline. Those people pay taxes, just like you do....

 

They have always been refered to as a snowmachines, natives call them sno gos, young guys call them sleds, this guys a fraud, hes not alaskan, hes a new hire based in denver flying for pen air, thats his only fight in the eas debate, he made a bad choice coming to an airline that only makes money on handouts, or he didnt have a choice, maybe penair was his only option. bottom line is most alaskans also see the waist in eas flying and would love to see it go away, next get rid of by pass mail, you guys want to see waist, google bypass mail in alaska

 

Just spoke to a friend of mine in Congress and asked him about it. He specifically said "don't bet on Congress actually cutting anything"...... so as I suspected, it is here to stay.

 

I have to fly 5 hours to get to work. Should I get a subsidized positive space seat? Oh I should live in base and move, out of pocket? There are very few times where EAS makes sense. Alaska is a notable exception, but even then, EAS hasn't always been around and people have survived without it, or moved. People can move. People move all the time from the sticks to areas closer to (primarily) good medical care and other things to which they need/prefer easier access.

Again, Essential Air Service is an oxymoron. If it's by air, it isn't essential, except on islands or other places with no roads. Farmer Joe can drive. Taxpayer Bob, who has to fly 5 hours to work in cases like mine, shouldn't help pay for Farmer Joe to fly out of a podunk airport to avoid a couple hour drive. Taxpayer Bob also shouldn't ever pay for empty planes to fly around letting people build time.

We should change EAS to CAS, or convenient air service. Let the free markets decide where it is feasible to have air service, not congressmen trying to get reelected.