^ 

Xl-l()l()26-()()l 

U5.D«pcirtment o f Assistant Secretary 1200 Now Jersey Avenue, SE 

DrontportOHon WasKlngton, DC 20590 

Office Of the SectBtary * 

of Transportation 

November 9, 2010 

The Honorable Carl Levin ^ ?H 5-' 

United States Senate > >;§—• 

Washington, DC 20510 Q O^ ^ 

e n CJO 

Dear Senator Levin: ^ 

Thank you for your letter of October 11, co-signed by your congressional colleagues, 

expressing concern about the Essential Air Service (EAS) carrier-selection process at 

Ironwood and Manistee/Ludington in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. 

As you know, by Order 2010-9-26, September 27 the U.S. Department of Transportation ' " 

deteiTOined that the two applicants that submitted bids did not have the requisite 

operating authority necessai7 to provide EAS. As a result, the Department requested 

another round of proposals from air carriers interested in providing EAS at the two 

communities for a third-time, due no later than October 18. At the request of one 

applicant and with support from the communities, the due date for proposals was 

extended until October 25. 

In response to the most recent request for proposals, we have received a total of five 

proposals, briefly outlined below: 

• CAT to serve Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with 30-seat, pressurized turboprop aircraft; 

• Gulfstream International Airlines to serve Milwaukee utilizing 19-seat, 

pressurized turboprop aircraft; 

• Air Choice One, two options, to serve Chicago O'Hare International Airport 

utilizing 9-seat turboprop aircraft; 

• Seaport Airlines, two options depending on the hub served (Minneapolis and 

Milwaukee or Minneapolis and Detroit) utilizing 9-seat, pressurized turboprop 

aircraft; and 

• Chautauqua Airlines, d/b/a Frontier Airlines, to serve Milwaukee utilizing 37-seat 

jet aircraft. 

As the carrier-selection proceeding is competitive and is currentiy under review by the 

Department, I am sure you understand that I carmot comment on the merits of the 

proposals. I assure you, however, that the Department will fiilly consider all of the 

proposals, and malce its award based on the selection criteria detailed in the governing 

statutes. 
Xl-l()l()26-()()l 

The Honorable Cail Levin 

Page 2 

As is our normal practice, I am plachig a copy of your letter and my response in Dockets 

DOT-OST-1996-1266 and 1996-1711 as a contact outside the record of this proceeding. 

I share your interest m finding a replacement carrier in a timely manner; however, rest 

assured that our overall goal is to find the best fit for the communities. If I can provide 

further information or assistance, please feel free to call me. 

!;hrista Fomarott 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
Xl-l()l()26-()()l 

e 

ULS.Depcirtment of Assistant Secretary 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

'nronsportCltlon Wasliington, DC 20590 

Office Of the Secretary ^ 

of Transportation 

NOV 0 9 2010 

The Honorable Bart Stupak 

U.S. House of Representatives 

Washington, DC 20515 

Dear Congressman Stupak: 

Thank you for your letter of October 11, co-signed by your congressional colleagues, 

expressing concern about the Essential Air Service (EAS) carrier-selection process at 

Ironwood and Manistee/Ludington in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. 

As you know, by Order 2010-9-26, September 27 the U.S. Department of Transportation 

determined that the two applicants that submitted bids did not have the requisite 

operating authority necessary to provide EAS. As a result, the Department requested 

another round of proposals from air carriers interested in providing EAS at the two 

communities for a thud-time, due no later than October 18. At the request of one 

applicant and with support from the communities, the due date for proposals was 

extended until October 25. 

In response to the most recent request for proposals, we have received a total of five 

proposals, briefly outiined below: 

• CAT to serve Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with 30-seat, pressurized turboprop aircraft; 

• Gulfstream International Airlines to serve Milwaukee utilizing 19-seat, 

pressurized turboprop aircraft; 

• Air Choice One, two options, to serve Chicago O'Hare International Airpoit 

utilizing 9-seat turboprop aircraft; 

• Seaport Airlines, two options depending on the hub served (Minneapolis and 

Milwaukee or Minneapolis and Detroit) utilizing 9-seat, pressurized turboprop 

aircraft; and 

• Chautauqua Airlines, d/b/a Frontier Airlines, to serve Milwaukee utilizing 37-seat 

jet aircraft. 

As the carrier-selection proceeding is competitive and is currently under review by the 

Department, I am sure you understand that I cannot comment on the merits of the 

proposals. I assure you, however, that the Department will fiilly consider all of the 

proposals, and make its award based on the selection criteria detailed in the governing 

statutes. 
26-001 

The Honorable Bart Stupak 

Page 2 

As is our nonnal practice, I am placing a copy of yom* letter and my response in Dockets 

DOT-OST-1996-1266 and 1996-1711 as a contact outside the record of this proceeding. 

I share your interest in finding a replacement carrier in a timely manner; however, rest 

assured that our overall goal is to find the best fit for the communities. If I can provide 

further information or assistance, please feel free to call me. 

^hrista Fomarotto 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
X1-101026-001 

O 

US.OepartnMnt o f Assistant Secretary 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

ItansportOtlon V^'ashington, DC 20590 

Office Of the Secretary ' 

ofTtonsportotion 

NOV 0 9 2010 

The Honorable Debbie Stabenow 

United States Senate 

Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Senator Stabenow; 

Thank you for your letter of October 11, co-signed by your congressional colleagues, 

expressing concern about the Essential Air Service (EAS) canier-selection process at 

Ironwood and Manistee/Ludington in Michigan's Upper Penmsula. 

As you know, by Order 2010-9-26, September 27 the U.S. Department of Transportation 

determined that the two applicants that submitted bids did not have the requisite 

operating authority necessary to provide EAS. As a result, the Department requested 

another round of proposals ftom air carriers mterested in providing EAS at the two 

communities for a third-time, due no later than October 18. At the request of one 

applicant and with support from the conmiunities, the due date for proposals was 

extended until October 25. 

In response to the most recent request for proposals, we have received a total of five 

proposals, briefly outiined below: 

• CAT to serve Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with 30-seat, pressurized turboprop aircraft; 

• Gulfstream International Airlines to serve Milwaukee utilizing 19-seat, 

pressurized turboprop aircraft; 

• Air Choice One, two options, to serve Chicago O'Hare International Airport 

utilizing 9-seat turboprop aircraft; 

• Seaport Airlines, two options depending on the hub served (Minneapolis and 

Milwaukee or Minneapolis and Detroit) utilizing 9-seat, pressurized turboprop 

aircraft; and 

• Chautauqua Airlines, d/b/a Frontier Airlines, to serve Milwaukee utilizing 37-seat 

jet aircraft. 

As the carrier-selection proceeding is competitive and is currentiy under review by the 

Department, I am sure you understand that I cannot comment on the merits of the 

proposals. I assure you, however, that the Department will fully consider all of the 

proposals, and make its award based on the selection criteria detailed in the governing 

statutes. 
Xl-l()l()26-()()l 

The Honorable Debbie Stabenow 

Page 2 

As is our normal practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and my response in Dockets 

DOT-OST-1996-1266 and 1996-1711 as a contact outside the record of this proceeding. 

I share your interest in finding a replacement carrier in a timely manner; however, rest 

assured that our overall goal is to find the best fit for the communities. If I can provide 

further information or assistance, please feel free to call me. 

'erely yours, / 

irista Fomarotto 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
X1-101026-001 

Congres^£( ot tt)e ^ntteli States; 

?SHai^ington, JBdD 20515 

October 11, 2010 

Christa Fomarotto 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aviation & International Affairs 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE S"" Floor 

Washington, DC 20590 

Dear Secretary Fomarotto: 

The Ironwood, MI/Ashland, WI and the Manistee/Ludington Airports (Docket # DOTOST-1996-1266 and #D0T-0ST-1196-1711 respectively) have been advised that the 

Essential Air Service Division of the Department of Transportation has denied the offer 

of Charter Air Transport (CAT) Public Charter to provide subsidized service. 

Subsequentiy, EAS is soliciting bids for the third consecutive time, seeking a carrier to 

service these rural communities. 

Delays in the decision making process and the time it takes to solicit more carriers will 

further a lack of confidence in these regional airports. The confusion and uncertainty in 

air provider service and scheduling is causing passengers to look for alternatives with the 

consequence of lower boarding numbers at both sites. 

We believe these circumstances provide the opportunity for all parties to consider other 

options. We understand that the EAS guidelines provide DOT the authority to grant 

waivers or exceptions to airlines to provide service. We are asking that DOT, in 

consultation with the two airports review possible alternative options that might be 

granted to provide service to these communities. 

Wp annreciate your prompt attention to this matter in this challenging air service market. 

Sincerely ., 

Carl Levin Debbie Stabenow Bart Stupak 

United States Senator United States Senator Member of Congress 

PHINTCO ON RECVCLED PAPER