Order 2012-3-15

Served: March 23, 2012

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Issued by the Department of Transportation

on the 23rd of March, 2012

Essential Air Service at

Muscle Shoals/Florence/Sheffield/

 Tuscumbia, Alabama

Fort Dodge, Iowa

Mason City, Iowa

Sioux City, Iowa

Waterloo, Iowa

Alpena, Michigan

Escanaba, Michigan

Iron Mountain/Kingsford, Michigan

Pellston, Michigan

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

Bemidji, Minnesota

Brainerd, Minnesota

Chisholm/Hibbing, Minnesota

International Falls, Minnesota

Thief River Falls, Minnesota

Greenville, Mississippi

Laurel/Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Tupelo, Mississippi

Aberdeen, South Dakota, and

Watertown, South Dakota

under 49 U.S.C. 41731 et seq. 

Docket DOT-OST-2000-7856 

Docket DOT-OST-2001-10682

Docket DOT-OST-2001-10684 

Docket DOT-OST-2011-0131

Docket DOT-OST-2011-0132

Docket DOT-OST-2009-0300

Docket DOT-OST-2003-15128

Docket DOT-OST-1999-5175

Docket DOT-OST-2011-0133

Docket DOT-OST-2009-0303

Docket DOT-OST-2011-0134

Docket DOT-OST-2011-0135

Docket DOT-OST-2003-15796 

Docket DOT-OST-2009-0304

Docket DOT-OST-2001-10642

Docket DOT-OST-2008-0209

Docket DOT-OST-2001-10685

Docket DOT-OST-2009-0305

Docket DOT-OST-2011-0137

Docket DOT-OST-2001-10644

ORDER EXTENDING SERVICE OBLIGATION

Summary

By this Order, we extend the EAS obligation of the two wholly owned subsidiaries of Pinnacle 

Airlines Corporation -- Mesaba Aviation, Inc. (“Mesaba”) and Pinnacle Airlines (“Pinnacle”), 

d/b/a Delta Connection at the 20 remaining communities for 30 days, through, May 10, 2012. 
Communities 3-Ltr. State Communities 3-Ltr. State

1 Aberdeen ABR South Dakota 11 Iron Mountain IMT Michigan

2 Alpena APN Michigan 12 Mason City MCW Iowa

3 Bemidji BJI Minnesota 13 Muscle Shoals MSL Alabama

4 Brainerd BRD Minnesota 14 Pellston PLN Michigan

5 Escanaba ESC Michigan 15 Sault St. Marie CIU Michigan

6 Fort Dodge FOD Iowa 16 Sioux City SUX Iowa

7 Greenville GLH Mississippi 17 Thief River Falls TVF Minnesota

8 Hattiesburg PIB Mississippi 18 Tupelo TUP Mississippi

9 Hibbing HIB Minnesota 19 Waterloo ALO Iowa

10 International Falls INL Minnesota 20 Watertown ATY South Dakota

Background

On July 15, 2011, SkyWest filed notice of its intent to terminate its service at Butte, Montana, 

effective October 13, 2011. Likewise, on July 15, 2011, Mesaba and Pinnacle filed notices to 

terminate their service at 23 communities. By Order 2011-9-5, issued on September 13, 2011, 

we prohibited the air carriers from suspending service at the communities. 

The notices at all of these communities were triggered by Mesaba/Pinnacle’s retirement of its 

fleet of 34-seat Saab 340 aircraft. All of the service is now provided with 50-seat regional jets. 

As a result of the larger jet aircraft replacing the smaller Saab 340 aircraft, we will require the 

statutory frequency requirement of two round trips a day, six days a week, i.e., twelve round trips 

a week. 

We have received proposals and comments regarding service at the above-captioned 

communities. However, replacement service may not commence before April 10, 2012, the end 

of the current hold-in period. In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 41734(c), we must extend the 

service obligations of Mesaba and Pinnacle for an additional 30 days, or until replacement 

service actually begins, whichever occurs first. 

This Order is issued under the authority assigned in 14 CFR 385.12(k)(5). 

ACCORDINGLY,

1. We require Mesaba Aviation, Inc. and Pinnacle Airlines, d/b/a Delta Connection, to provide 

12 round trips a week to a medium or large hub airport at the above-captioned communities for 

an additional 30 days, through May 10, 2012, or until replacement service actually begins, 

whichever occurs first;1 

2. We direct Mesaba Aviation, Inc. and Pinnacle Airlines to retain all books, records, and other 

source and summary documentation to support subsidy claims for payment, and to preserve and 

maintain such documentation in a manner that readily permits its audit and examination by 

representatives of the Department. Such documentation shall be retained for seven years or until 

 1 In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 41734(c), we will extend Delta Connection’s service obligation for successive 30-

day periods as necessary until replacement service actually begins.
the Department indicates that the records may be destroyed, whichever comes first. Copies of 

flight logs for aircraft sold or disposed of must be retained. The air carrier may forfeit its 

compensation for any claim that is not supported under the terms of this Order. 

3. These Dockets will remain open until further Order of the Department; and 

4. The Department will serve a copy of this Order on the mayors and airport managers of 

Muscle Shoals/Florence/Sheffield/Tuscumbia, Alabama; Fort Dodge, Mason city, Sioux City, 

and Waterloo, Iowa; Alpena, Escanaba, Iron Mountain/Kingsford, Pellston, and Sault Ste. Marie, 

Michigan; Bemidji, Brainerd, Chisholm/Hibbing, and International Falls, Thief River Falls, 

Minnesota; Greenville, Laurel/Hattiesburg, and Tupelo, Mississippi; Butte, Montana; 

Jamestown, North Dakota; and Aberdeen, and Watertown, South Dakota; and on the carriers in 

our service list.

By:

SUSAN L. KURLAND

Assistant Secretary

for Aviation and International Affairs

(SEAL)

An electronic version of this document is available on the World Wide Web at

http://www.regulations.gov