217 Elm Street / OilCity, PA 16301-1412 / 814.677.3152 / FAX 814.677.5206 / 800.483.6264 / www.oilregion.org

May 22,2014

Mr. Kevin Schlemmer

Chief, Essential Air Service & Domestic Analysis Division

United States Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Ave SE

Washington, D.C. 20590

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Dear Mr. Schlemmer;

I am corresponding in response to the Tentative Order 2014-4-26 served on April 24, 2014

regarding termination of EAS eligibility for the communities of Franklin/Oil City, Pennsylvania

by Silver Airlines d.b.a. United Express. The enplanements for these communities are below ten

(10) per day. The primary issue faced in Franklin and Oil City has been, and continues to be,

absence of dependable air service largely due to the fact that the air carriers provide only

transiting aircraft and landings are substantially affected by weather conditions. Indeed the

current provider, Silver Airways, (formerly Gulfstream International) has managed to cancel

22.8% of its flights during the months of December thru February, each year since 2008, for

weather reasons. The past year saw an across the board cancellation average of 10.8% of their

flights for reasons ranging from maintenance to operations and weather causing hundreds of

passengers to either drive to the hub or be transported by taxi costing them lost connectivity due

to re booking. Often these passengers go away and do not try the airline again after their

expenences.

The air carrier (s) have basically denied this community the essential part of Essential Air

Service by failing to develop a schedule putting a plane in place to make a dependable departure

to a hub airport enabling local passengers a chance at reasonable connections with enough

consistency to build a loyal market. An air carrier vice president acknowledged as much in 2010

when he inquired if we had a hangar to overnight an aircraft because in working on an air service

bid for Franklin/Oil City it was very apparent that an overnight aircraft with service to Pittsburgh

was needed to assure the community's ability to be within the necessary per passenger cost

structure. This airport used its funds to build a hangar for that purpose, however the aircraft and

the service to Pittsburgh never materialized. The ten (10) enplanements per day issue would not

be a factor here if we had an originating aircraft providing this community Essential Air Service.

Instead the air carrier persisted in using Cleveland as a hub when all studies have shown that

99% of the local area travel market prefers Pittsburgh.
As the lead agency for economic development and tourism promotion, having reliable air service

is a key essential part of marketing this region to new prospective companies and existing

employers who conduct business travel. The severe impact of loss of this service would be

economically hurtful. The Industrial Parks are marketed to attract and retain businesses to our

area as "Global and Regional" Market Access. The second largest energy field in the world,

Fuels and Natural Gas Industry has made Pennsylvania the second largest producer in the United

States that's poised to revolutionize the business. Innovation and reinvention as the "Birthplace

of the Oil Industry" are roadways with Airports, Rail Access, and Highways as the streamline to

our future. Our location is perfectly situated in the Northeastern United States giving businesses

access to top U.S. markets as well as markets around the world. Becoming a part of the natural

gas industry's supply chain requires an understanding of the needs and requirements of those

supply chain industries. The Venango Regional Airport is vital to our continued business efforts

to attract new businesses to our communities.

In tourism it is very advantageous to have air service as many of our fairs, festivals, are heavily

attended with the annual Applefest in Franklin seeing upwards of 100,000 visitors. We are

marketing this region as an outdoor recreation destination and reliable air service makes it easier

for visitors to have the opportunity to get here.

The Oil Region Alliance also manages the Oil Region National Heritage Area and works hard in

educating and exposing our heritage to visitors to this region. Reliable air service can be so

instrumental in helping the ORA complete our mission.

We ask only for our fair chance at truly essential air service and, on behalf of the Oil Heritage

Region served by the Venango Regional Airport, I ask that you give favorable consideration to

this appeal to allow continued air service to the communities of Franklin and Oil City.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to give me a call at (814) 677-3152.