We, the residents of Lycoming County, oppose the closure of the Pennsylvania State Police Aviation Patrol Unit IV at the Williamsport Regional Airport and its transfer to the Hazelton Municipal Airport.

The Pennsylvania State Police Aviation Patrol Unit IV, which serves all of Lycoming, Northumberland, Union, Snyder, Montour, Clinton, Tioga, Cameron, Potter, Bradford, and Sullivan counties, has been operational at the Williamsport Regional Airport for over 40 years. It is the primary air support unit for Pennsylvania State Troopers and local law enforcement agencies in a 7,630 square mile rural area with a population of 491,000. The Unit has played major roles in rescue and support operations in response to many natural and man-made disasters, most recently the flooding of September 2011. The mountainous terrain of the service area of Unit IV makes aerial support a necessity in order to ensure efficient and effective response to all emergencies. Lastly, the rapid and exponential increase in motor vehicle traffic throughout Lycoming, Clinton, Tioga, Potter, and Bradford counties due to the Marcellus Shale natural gas well drilling operations, and the possibility of emergency issues related to those operations, further necessitate the need for a nearby emergency aerial response unit.

Therefore, we, the undersigned, strongly support the continued operation of the Pennsylvania State Police Aviation Patrol Unit IV at the Williamsport Regional Airport and its service to Lycoming County and the surrounding areas.

Richard Mirabito State Representative 83rd Legislative District	Gene Yaw State Senator 23rd Senatorial District	Garth Everett State Representative 84th Legislative District