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Before the United States Department of Transportation 

Washington, DC 

October 14, 2011 

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n A Q:35 

Essential Air Service at: 

Fort Dodge, Iowa 

Mason City, Iowa 

Iron Mountain/Klnsford, Michigan 

Brainerd, Minnesota 

International Falls, Minnesota 

Thief River Falls, Minnesota 

Devils Lake, North Dakota 

Jamestown, North Dakota 

Watertown, South Dakota 

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

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This document contains the response of Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. to Order Requesting 

Proposals 2011-9-5. 

Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. is pleased to submit these proposals to provide essential air 

transportation. Great Lakes has more than 26 years of history of providing reliable Essential Air 

Service. The proposed service is being offered with local service marketed and priced utilizing 

the Great Lakes (ZK) reservations system which includes customer ticket purchasing capability 

on both the Great Lakes' web site and on all major Web Booking Engines (Orbitz, Travelocity, 

Expedia, etc.) 

Great Lakes will be utilizing interline e-ticketing and baggage agreements with American 

Airlines, Delta Airlines, Frontier Airlines, United Airlines and U.S. Airways. All of which will offer 

passengers maxium access to the domestic and international air transportation system at the 

Minneapolis hub. 

Great Lakes and Delta Airlines are coordinating an upgrade of electronic communication 

systems to enable Great Lakes to provide Delta boarding passes and Sky Miles processing. 

Delta and Great Lakes also intend to enable the sale of Great Lakes' passenger segments on 

the Delta website for added passenger convenience. These reservation system upgrades are 

anticipated to be completed in the Spring of 2012. 

The proposed service to Devils Lake and Thief River Falls, while priced seperately, assumes 

that the service would be operated over a Devils Lake to Thief River Falls to the Minneapolis 

hub routing. Great Lakes considers its Devils Lake proposal also eligible to be combined with 

Jamestown for the same subsidy rate. 
These proposals are submitted under an assumption that Great Lakes would be awarded no 

fewer than five communities in which we are proposing Essential Air Service. Each proposal is 

bid with no upline scheduling restrictions. 

Sample schedules, provided herein, include frequencies on the weekends which are 

supplemental to the minimum EAS proposal requirements. It is Great Lakes' intention to 

provide additional frequencies and schedule adjustments, at our discretion, with the 

consideration that each community's input and needs are unique. 

These proposals contemplate the use of pressurized 19 seat Beech 1900D's, which Great 

Lakes has had a 24 year history of operating. 

Questions and comments may be referred to: 

Michael O. Matthews 

Chief Financial Officer 

Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. 

1022 Airport Parkway 

Cheyenne, WY 82001 

(307) 432-7000 
Table of Contents: 

Proposal 

Number 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

Service Point 

Fort Dodge, Iowa 

Mason City, Iowa 

Iron Mountaln/Kinsford, Michigan 

Brainerd, Minnesota 

International Falls, Minnesota 

Thief River Falls, Minnesota 

Devils Lal«e, North Dal(ota 

Jam«stown, North Dakota 

Watertown, South Dal(ota 

Hub Served 

MSP 

MSP 

MSP 

MSP 

MSP 

MSP 

MSP 

MSP 

MSP 

Round Trips 

3 

4 

3 

4 

3 

2 

2 

3 

3 

Equipment 

1900D 

1900D 

1900D 

1900D 

1900D 

1900D 

1900D 

1900D 

1900D 

Subsidy 

Requirement 

$1,798,693 

$1,174,468 

$1,707,841 

$959,865 

$993,247 

$1,881,815 

$783,061 

$1,987,655 

$1,710,324 

$12,996,969 

Passengers 

Forecast 

17,000 

28,000 

18,500 

30,750 

28,750 

6,000 

10,000 

15,250 

16,750 

171,000 

Average 

Fare 

$102.25 

$94.40 

$127.04 

$89.92 

$112.55 

$112.75 

$137.82 

$132.75 

$115.82 
Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. 

Annual Compensation Requirements for Essential Air Service at 

Fort Dodge, Iowa to Minneapolis/St. Paul ( MSP ) 

Three Round Trips - B1900 

98.0% completion factor 

Departures: 

Block Hours: 

Revenue Passenger Miles: 

Available Seat Miles: 

1,840 

2,224 

2,873,000 

5,908,240 

Operating Revenues: 

Passenger: FOD-MSP 17,000 psgrsat $102.25 $1,738,250 

Other: (at 0.62% of passenger revenue) 

Total Operating Revenues: 

$10,777 

$1,749,027 

Operating Expenses: 

Direct: Aircraft and Hull Insurance 

Fuel and Oil 

Flying Operations 

Mairitenance 

Total Direct Expenses: 

Total Indirect Expenses: 

Total Operating Expenses: 

Operating Loss 

Profit Element (5.0% of Total Operating Expenses) 

Annual Compensation Requirement: 

$365,710 

$957,394 

$389,511 

$569,465 

$2,282,080 

$1,096.700 

$3,378,781 

($1,629,754) 

$168,939 

$1,798,693 

Proposal assumes no upline scheduling restrictions. 

Sample Schedule Attached 
Great Lal^es Aviation, Ltd. 

Annual Compensation Requirements for Essential Air Service at 

Mason City, Iowa to Minneapolis/St. Paul ( MSP ) 

Four Round Trips - B1900 

98.0% completion factor 

Departures: 

Block Hours: 

Revenue Passenger Miles: 

Available Seat Miles: 

2,454 

1,840 

3,360,000 

5,595,120 

Operating Revenues: 

Passenger: MCW-MSP 28,000 psgrs at $94.40 $2,643,200 

Other: (at 0.62% of passenger revenue) 

Total Operating Revenues: 

$16,388 

$2,659,588 

Operating Expenses: 

Direct: Aircraft and Hull Insurance 

Fuel and Oil 

Flying Operations 

Maintenance 

Total Direct Expenses: 

Total Indirect Expenses: 

Total Operating Expenses: 

Operating Loss 

Profit Element (5.0% of Total Operating Expenses) 

Annual Compensation Requirement: 

$365,710 

$1,029,799 

$322,258 

$604,345 

$2,322,111 

$1,329,370 

$3,651,482 

($991,894) 

$182,574 

$1,174,468 

Proposal assumes no upline scheduling restrictions. 

Sample Schedule Attached 
Great Lalces Aviation, Ltd. 

Annual Compensation Requirements for Essential Air Service at 

Iron Mountain, Miciiigan to Minneapolis/St. Paul ( MSP ) 

Three Round Trips - B1900 

98.0% completion factor 

Departures: 

Block Hours:. 

Revenue Passenger Miles: 

Available Seat Miles: 

1,840 

2,454 

4,754,500 

8,984,720 

Operating Revenues: 

Passenger: IMT-MSP 18,500 psgrsat $127.04 $2,350,240 

Other: (at 0.62% of passenger revenue) 

Total Operating Revenues: 

$14,571 

$2,364,811 

Operating Expenses: 

Direct: Aircraft and Hull Insurance 

Fuel and Oil 

Flying Operations 

Maintenance 

Total Direct Expenses: 

Total Indirect Expenses: 

Total Operating Expenses: 

Operating Loss 

Profit Element (5.0% of Total Operating Expenses) 

Annual Compensation Requirement: 

$365,710 

$1,231,018 

$429,794 

$601,152 

$2,627,674 

$1,251,043 

$3,878,717 

($1,513,905) 

$193,936 

$1,707,841 

Proposal assumes no upline scheduling restrictions. 

Sample Schedule Attached 
Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. 

Annual Compensation Requirements for Essential Air Service at 

Brainerd, Minnesota to Minneapolis/St. Paul ( MSP ) 

Four Round Trips - B1900 

98.0% completion factor 

Departures: 2,454 

Block Hours: 1,840 

Revenue Passenger Miles: 3,474,750 

Available Seat Miles: 5,268,738 

Operating Revenues: 

Passenger: BRD-MSP 30,750 psgrsat $89.92 $2,765,040 

Other: (at 0.62% of passenger revenue) $17,143 

Total Operating Revenues: $2,782,183 

Operating Expenses: 

Direct: Aircraft and Hull Insurance $365,710 

Fuel and Oil $962,472 

Flying Operations $322,258 

Maintenance $604,345 

Total Direct Expenses: $2,254,785 

Total Indirect Expenses: $1,309,071 

Total Operating Expenses: $3,563,856 

Operating Loss ($781,672) 

Profit Element (5.0% of Total Operating Expenses) $178,193 

Annual Compensation Requirement: $959,865 

Proposal assumes no upline scheduling restrictions. 

Sample Schedule Attached 
Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. 

Annual Compensation Requirements for Essential Air Service at 

International Falls, Minnesota to Minneapolis/St. Paul ( MSP ) 

Three Round Trips - B1900 

98.0% completion factor 

Departures: 

Block Hours: 

Revenue Passenger Miles: 

Available Seat Miles: 

1,840 

2,454 

7,302,500 

8,879,840 

Operating Revenues: 

Passenger: INL 28,750 psgrsat $112.55 $3,235,813 

Other: (at 0.62% of passenger revenue) 

Total Operating Revenues: 

$20,062 

$3,255,875 

Operating Expenses: 

Direct: Aircraft and Hull Insurance 

Fuel and Oil 

Flying Operations 

Maintenance 

Total Direct Expenses: 

Total Indirect Expenses: 

Total Operating Expenses: 

Operating Loss 

Profit Element (5.0% of Total Operating Expenses) 

Annual Compensation Requirement: 

$365,710 

$1,222,302 

$429,794 

$601,152 

$2,618,958 

$1,427,825 

$4,046,783 

($790,908) 

$202,339 

$993,247 

Proposal assumes no upline scheduling restrictions. 

Sample Schedule Attached 
Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. 

Annual Compensation Requirements for Essential Air Service at 

Thiief River Falls, Minnesota to Minneapolis/St. Paul ( MSP ) 

Two Round Trips - B1900 

98.0% completion factor 

Departures: 

Block Hours: 

Revenue Passenger Miles: 

Available Seat Miles: 

1,227 

1,585 

1,566,000 

6,084,693 

Operating Revenues: 

Passenger: TVF-MSP 6,000 psgrsat $112.75 $676,500 

Other: (at 0.62% of passenger revenue) 

Total Operating Revenues: 

$4,194 

$680,694 

Operating Expenses: 

Direct: Aircraft and Hull Insurance 

Fuel and Oil 

Flying Operations 

Maintenance 

Total Direct Expenses: 

Total Indirect Expenses: 

Total Operating Expenses: 

Operating Loss 

Profit Element (5.0% of Total Operating Expenses) 

Annual Compensation Requirement: 

$182,855 

$863,867 

$277,597 

$393,790 

$1,718,108 

$722,377 

$2,440,486 

($1,759,791) 

$122,024 

$1,881,815 

Proposal assumes no upline scheduling restrictions. 

Sample Schedule Attached 
Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. 

Annual Compensation Requirements for Essential Air Service at 

Devils Lake, North Dakota to Minneapolis/St. Paul ( MSP ) 

Two Round Trips - B1900 

98.0% completion factor 

Departures: 1,227 

Operating Revenues: 

Passenger: DVL-MSP 10,000 psgrsat $137.82 $1,378,200 

Other: (at 0.62% of passenger revenue) $8,545 

Total Operating Revenues: $1,386,745 

Operating Expenses: 

Direct: Aircraft and Hull Insurance $182,855 

Fuel and Oil $574,747 

Flying Operations $143,265 

Maintenance $288,120 

Total Direct Expenses: $1,188,986 

Total Indirect Expenses: $877,495 

Total Operating Expenses: $2,066,482 

Operating Loss ($679,737) 

Profit Element (5.0% of Total Operating Expenses) $103,324 

Annual Compensation Requirement: $783,061 

Proposal assumes no upline scheduling restrictions. 

Sample Schedule Attached 

*** All service to and from MSP is one stop *** 
Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. 

Annual Compensation Requirements for Essential Air Service at 

Jamestown, North Dakota to Minneapolis/St. Paul ( MSP ) 

Three Round Trips - B1900 

98.0% completion factor 

Departures: 

Block Hours: 

Revenue Passenger Miles: 

Available Seat Miles: 

1,840 

2,531 

4,559,750 

10,453,040 

Operating Revenues: 

Passenger: JMS_MSP 15,250 psgrsat $132.75 $2,024,438 

Other: (at 0.62% of passenger revenue) 

Total Operating Revenues: 

$12,552 

$2,036,989 

Operating Expenses: 

Direct: Aircraft and Hull Insurance 

Fuel and Oil 

Flying Operations 

Maintenance 

Total Direct Expenses: 

Total Indirect Expenses: 

Total Operating Expenses: 

Operating Loss 

Profit Element (5.0% of Total Operating Expenses) 

Annual Compensation Requirement: 

$365,710 

$1,331,293 

$443,279 

$611,761 

$2,752,043 

$1,080,951 

$3,832,994 

($1,796,005) 

$191,650 

$1,987,655 

Proposal assumes no upline scheduling restrictions. 

Sample Schedule Attached 
Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. 

Annual Compensation Requirements for Essential Air Service at 

Watertown, South Dakota to Minneapolis/St. Paul ( MSP ) 

Three Round Trips - B1900 

98.0% completion factor 

Departures: 

Block Hours: 

Revenue Passenger Miles: 

Available Seat Miles: 

1,840 

2,224 

3,232,750 

6,747,280 

Operating Revenues: 

Passenger: ATY-MSP 16,750 psgrsat $115.82 $1,939,985 

Other: (at 0.62% of passenger revenue) 

Total Operating Revenues: 

$12,028 

$1,952,013 

Operating Expenses: 

Direct: Aircraft and Hull Insurance 

Fuel and Oil 

Flying Operations 

Maintenance 

Total Direct Expenses: 

Total Indirect Expenses: 

Total Operating Expenses: 

Operating Loss 

Profit Element (5.0% of Total Operating Expenses) 

Annual Compensation Requirement: 

$365,710 

$1,035,705 

$389,511 

$569,465 

$2,360,391 

$1,127,548 

$3,487,940 

($1,535,927) 

$174,397 

$1,710,324 

Proposal assumes no upline scheduling restrictions. 

Sample Schedule Attached 
*** [FDD] FORT DODGE, lA *** 

DEPARTURE S ARRIVAL S 

FLT DPT ARR TO EQP FREQ FLT EQP FREQ FROM DPT ARR 

2623 645 800 MSP BE1 Daily 

2303 BE1 Daily MSP 1034 1144 

2303 1159 1314 MSP BE1 Daily 

2694 BE1 Daily MSP 1350 1500 

2694 1515 1630 MSP BE1 Daily 

2450 BE1 Daily MSP 1959 2109 
*** [MCW] MASON CITY, lA *** 

DEPARTURE S ARRIVAL S 

FLT DPT ARR TO EQP FREQ FLT EQP FREQ FROM DPT ARR 

2645 540 625 MSP BE1 Daily 

2484 BE1 Daily MSP 930 1015 

2484 1030 1115 MSP BE1 Daily 

2305 BE1 Daily MSP 1217 1302 

2305 1317 1402 MSP BE1 Daily 

2306 BE1 Daily MSP 1502 1547 

2306 1602 1647 MSP BE1 Daily 

2700 BE1 Daily MSP 2155 2240 
*** [IMT] IRON MOUNTAIN, Ml *** 

DEPARTURE S ARRIVAL S 

FLT DPT ARR TO EQP FREQ FLT EQP FREQ FROM DPT ARR 

2558 632 752 MSP BE1 Daily 

2673 BE1 Daily MSP 1030 1150 

2759 1205 1325 MSP BE1 Daily 

2301 BE1 Daily MSP 1422 1542 

2301 1557 1717 MSP BE1 Daily 

2581 BE1 Daily MSP 1947 2107 
*** [BRD] BRAINERD, MN *** 

DEPARTURE S ARRIVAL S 

FLT DPT ARR TO EQP FREQ FLT EQP FREQ FROM DPT ARR 

2609 540 624 MSP BE1 Daily 

2535 BE1 Daily MSP 925 1009 

2535 1024 1108 MSP BE1 Daily 

2533 BE1 Daily MSP 1148 1232 

2533 1247 1331 MSP BE1 Daily 

2304 BE1 Daily MSP 1410 1454 

2304 1509 1553 MSP BE1 Daily 

2586 BE1 Daily MSP 1950 2034 
*** [INL] INTL FALLS, MN *** 

DEPARTURE S ARRIVAL S 

FLT DPT ARR TO EQP FREQ FLT EQP FREQ FROM DPT ARR 

2580 630 745 MSP BE1 Daily 

2614 BE1 Daily MSP 1032 1157 

2614 1212 1327 MSP BE1 Daily 

2302 BE1 Daily MSP 1415 1540 

2302 1555 1710 MSP BE1 Daily 

2585 BE1 Daily MSP 1945 2110 
*** [TVF] THIEF-RIVER FALLS, MN *** 

DEPARTURE S ARRIVAL S 

FLT DPT ARR TO EQP FREQ FLT EQP FREQ FROM DPT ARR 

2621 BE1 Daily DVL 600 640 

2621 655 810 MSP BE1 Daily 

2527 BE1 Daily MSP 1135 1255 

2527 1310 1350 DVL BE1 Daily 

2528 BE1 Daily DVL 1405 1445 

2528 1500 1615 MSP BE1 Daily 

2646 BE1 Daily MSP 1955 2115 

2646 2130 2210 DVL BE1 Daily 
[DVL] DEVILS LAKE, ND 

DEPARTURE S ARRIVAL S 

FLT DPT ARR TO EQP FREQ FLT EQP FREQ FROM DPT ARR 

*** All service to and from MSP is one stop *** 

2621 600 810 MSP BE1 Daily 

2527 BE1 Daily MSP 1135 1350 

2528 1405 1615 MSP BE1 Daily 

2646 BE1 Daily MSP 1955 2210 
*** [JMS] JAMESTOWN, ND *** 

DEPARTURE S ARRIVAL S 

FLT DPT ARR TO EQP FREQ FLT EQP FREQ FROM DPT ARR 

2307 635 755 MSP BE1 Daily 

2308 1214 1334 MSP BE1 Daily 

2309 1550 1710 MSP BE1 Daily 

2308 BE1 Daily MSP 1034 1159 

2309 BE1 Daily MSP 1410 1535 

2310 BE1 Daily MSP 1953 2118 
[ATY] WATERTOWN, SD 

DEPARTURE S ARRIVAL S 

FLT DPT ARR TO EQP FREQ FLT EQP FREQ FROM DPT ARR 

2548 640 750 MSP BE1 Daily 

2551 BE1 Daily MSP 1035 1150 

2551 1205 1315 MSP BE1 Daily 

2300 BE1 Daily MSP 1355 1510 

2300 1525 1635 MSP BE1 Daily 

2557 BE1 Daily MSP 1950 2105