S 1 0- J 00414-004 

U.S. Department Assistant Secretary 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S6 

of Transportation Washlligton, DC 20590 

,,1. 

Offioe of the Secretory 


of Transportation 


JUN~"l 0 2010 

The Honorable Brett Guthrie 

U.s. House of Representatives 

Washington, DC 20515 en 

en 

Dear Congressman Guthrie: 

. 'Thank yoU for your letter expressing concern about the lack ofdirect access to the main tenninal 

in Nashville, Tennessee, by Kentucky Skies, a carrier that is part ofthe Essential Air Service 

~ ----·-Pto~atn; and the adverse effect ofthis lack of access on the travel needs ofpassengers from the 

Owerisboro;..Daviess County Regional Airport. which it serves. I am responding on behalf ofthe 

Secretary. 

As you may know, Owensboro bec~e part of the Essential Air Service program because it 

received scheduled air service when the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 was signed into law 

on October 24, ·1978. It is guaranteed to receive at least a minimum level ofair service, with 

Federal subsidy ifnecessary. We now are subsidizing Kentucky Skies to provide nonstop 

service to Nashville. The carrier is currently flying out ofa fixed-base operation at Nashville 

while it attempts to gain access to the main terminal. 

I have instructed the Essential Air Service staf"fto continue to work with the Federal Aviation 

"Administration and Nashville Airport on this issue. We will keep your office apprised 

throughout the process.' " 

. As is our normal practice, we are placing copies of your letter and this response in Docket 

DOT~OST~2000-7855. If! can provide further information or assistance, please feel free to 

call me. . 

Sincerely yours, 

., ­

" , 

Assistant Secretary for 


Aviation and International Affairs 

S] 0-1 00414-004 
 l -l f'lM BREIT GUTHRIE SECOND OlSTRlCT, KENTUCI(Y 

COMMITTEE ON 

COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR 

TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE SUBCOMMITTEES 

SUBCOMMITTHS. RANKI~d MEM6t:R. HiGHER EOUCATION, LIF{£lONG 

LEARNING AND COMrHITIVeNElIS RAIl..ilOAOS: PJP.ELlm?$, ANO HAZARDOUS MAT£fUA1..S 

AVIA'I'1CN HEAtTH. EMPLOYMI::NT r LAOOil AND PeNSIONS 

ECONOMIC O£VELOPMENr, PUUlIC BUiLOINGS (:ongrc£{s of tbt ~niteb ~tateg: HEAtmy FAMILIES AND CO~IMUNITIES 

AND EMEROENCY MANAGEMENT 

J)oust of l\tpresentatibes 

April 7,2010 

The Hon. Ray LaHood 


Secretary ofTransportation 


U.S. Department of Transportation 


400 7th Street, S.W. 


Washington, DC 20590 


Dear Secretary LaHood: 

I am writing to Yoll in regards to an issue impacting the Owensboro~:Oa:vjess County Regional 

Airport. Because the OwensborowDaviess County Regional Airport is in my district and serves 

my constituents, I am extremely interested in their needs. Since the restoration of air service to 

the airport through the Essential Air Services program, the facility has been able to greatly 

improve their service to the region as travelers, both business and recreational, have enjoyed the 

ability to utilize local flight service. Additionally, air service is used as an economic 

deyelopment tool to connect the greater Daviess county region to the world. 

According to the information I have received, the local EAS carrier, Kentucky Skies, which flies 

passengers to the Nashville, Tennessee airport does not currently have direct access to that 

terminal. By not flying to the terminal, travel is inconvenient for passengers because they must 

be shuttled to the terminal and rescreened before making their connecting flights. 

I am asking for your assistance, within applicable laws and regulations, to help resolve the issues 

that limit the access to the Nashville terminal by Kentucky Skies. If! can provide you with any 

additional information, please contact Brian Smith, my Director ofEconomic Development at 

270-438-6599 or brian.smith2@mail.hQuse.gov. You may forward your reply to my Hardin 

County office located at 411 W. Lincoln Trail Boulevard, Radcliff, Kentucky, 40106. Thank 

you in advance for your kind assistance. 

Sincerely, . ~ 

() 'i,', .• ~~;~\jJ d-c-jA 1--:' '?IUAJ\ ,S(VlAAJ~;, .BRETT GUTHRIE .,.. ~ , :, . I','

Member of Congress 

BGlbds:;' , "', .: .1 . 

.I,' 

510CANN9N HOUSE OFfICe DUttlllNG 1001 CHNTEIlSTREET. SUIT! aoo WASHINGTON, PC 11<)51. SO\IILlNG GREEN, KENTUCKY 421Ql . www.gut.hr;;t.house.gov 202-225-3501 . 21()'04l-D8!lB