Department of Transportation 

Docket Operation M-30 

West Building Ground Floor RM W12-140 

1200 New Jersey Ave SE 

Washington DC 20590 

April 2, 2013 

Decision Committee 

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It has come to my attention that the EAS for Miles City is going to be terminated within the next couple 

of months therefore I am submitting this letter as a protest to this decision. 

It is my understanding the reason for the proposal was due to the cost. This was not caused by the 

citizens of Miles City; therefore we should not be punished. Let us look at the facts and bring out the 

real causes for this decline. If anyone should be blamed it should be Silver Airways and the Department 

of Transportation. Silver Airways should be blamed as they do not provide decent connecting flights 

when arriving in Billings, MT. The first flight that leaves Miles City is 11:45 AM arriving in Billings MT at 

12:30 PM which means if everything goes to plan you will be lucky to make a connection to the Delta 

and United flights that depart approximately 1:25PM. If you do not connect to either of those flights 

the next available flight is around 3:15 PM, which means you will not make any east coast connection 

and probably would have to get a Hotel in Denver or Minneapolis. Because Silver Airways only flies to 

Billings this will increase the cost of a flight to either the East Coast or West Coast by approximately 

$150.00. Considering this it is less expensive to drive to Billings and make a flight early enough to 

complete a West Coast or East Coast trip in a day. 

I blame the Department of Transportation as when this present bid was let out Great Lakes Air lines 

actually under bid Silver Airways by a significant amount. The citizens of Miles City were never for this 

decision. The results brought in Silver Airways (formally Gulfstream) which resulted in the change of 

schedule and eventually the loss of riders. It has always been my understanding when the government 

lets a bid out and the lowest bidder offers equal or better service you are compelled to accept the 

lowest bid. Obviously you did not and I would guess there are many other bids like this, which explains 

why our Government has such a large deficit. 

I have heard that Great Lakes want to bid Miles City. If this is true and they were awarded the contract I 

would assume they would go to the old schedule were we would arrive in Denver around 7:30AM. This 

means any connection to the East or West Coast we could make and we could complete our travels 

within a day eliminating an extra expense as there would not be a motel cost in Denver waiting for the 

next morning flights to the coast. I also believe ridership would go up triple of what Miles City has thus 

reducing the cost to be within the guidelines you are using. 

Finally, it is my understanding that these contracts are issued for rural areas that are long distances for 

an airport that has connecting flights. Miles City is 80 miles to Glendive MTwhich we could catch a 

flight to Billings and connect on with the same problems we have had in the past. Glendive is only 50 
miles to Sidney,, MT. I am unaware where you reside, but during the winter 30 mites longer is very 

dangerous during the winter months. Your decision leads me to believe you are not considering 

location, safety considerations, cost or why Miles City ridership has gone down. 

It is requested that you reverse your consideration the cease Miles City, MT EAS supplement. 

For Senators Baucus and Tester: I hope you get involved with this decision and show them why this 

decision is the wrong decision. The citizens of Miles Crty sent letters to you once the bid was issued to 

Silver Airways two years ago to complain about the award and the only thing you did was send a 

'Standard tetterout to us and nothing changed. Let''s hope you ftnaJty represent Mites ·City citizens as you· 

promised when you were elected. 

Deborah 

Jj.R.~01at..X- Anderson ~ 

310 N 10th Street 

Miles City, MT 59301 

CC: Senator Baucus 

CC: Senator Tester