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Chippewa County 

Economic Development Corporation 

(906) 495-5631 • Fax: (906) 495-5714 • e-mail: ccedc@sault.com 

www.airciu.com 

October 26, 2011 

Mr. Dennis J. DeVany, Chief 

Essential Air Service Division 

Office of Aviation Analysis 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Office of the Secretary of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

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via email to: EAS(a).dot.gov 

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RE: DOT-OST-2009-0303 

Dear Mr. DeVany: 

Please accept this letter in response to your October 21" invitation for formal comments 

concerning the carrier service and subsidy proposals submitted by Intrepid International Airlines 

and Delta Airlines for Sault Ste. Marie - Chippewa County International Airport (CIU) region. 

The Economic Development Corporation of Chippewa County overwhelmingly and 

enthusiastically supports the Delta Airlines Option #1 proposal. 

We would submit that Intrepid International Airlines should be unilaterally dismissed from the 

selection process in that: Intrepid "does not currently have authority to provide scheduled 

passenger service" and "is not currently operating as a scheduled passenger carrier". 

If this were not enough, Intrepid's "prospectus" fails woefully short with regard to the following 

considerations: 

It is our understanding that EAS provides for two round trips per day - not less than 10 

per week - Intrepid proposes 1 round trip per day - 4 days per week 

5019 W. AIRPORT DRIVE KINCHELOE, MICHIGAN 49788 
- It is our understanding that EAS sets forth service is to be provided to a hub airport. 

Lansing does NOT meet FAA's standards to be categorized as a hub airport. Lansing is 

categorized as a primary air carrier non-hub airport the same as Sault Ste. Marie -

Chippewa County International Airport (CIU). 

- It is our understanding that EAS sets forth a maximum one interim stop between the 

community and the hub airport. If in fact Chicago Midway and/or Indianapolis qualify as 

a legitimate hub, the community would encounter 3 interim stops (Alpena, Lansing and 

Muskegon). 

Also, Intrepid's claim that: "...it is our contention that the Jetstream, 19 sealer, would be perfectly 

capable of doing the job for the first 6 months..." is seriously flawed. Enplanements at CIU 

totaled 4,054 during the first three months of 2011 - which, assuming no cancellations, exceeds 

Intrepid's annuaf outbound seating capacity of 3,952!!! 

Neither does Intrepid's "prospectus" measure up from a financial perspective; 

Intrepid's proposes subsidy of $4,383.65 per flight, which equates to $230.72 per seat 

versus 

Delta's Option #1 proposes $2,718.28 per flight, or $54.37 per seat 

Delta's Option #2 proposes $2,200.90 per flight, $44.02 per seat 

Both Delta options are far superior to the "prospectus" offered by Intrepid International Airlines. 

Delta's Option #1 provides 3.5 times more service - 9.2 times more seats, with a subsidy 38% 

LESS than Intrepid's proposal. 

No question. Delta's Option #1, which continues current levels - equipment, capacity and 

frequency - is the air service preference for the Sault Ste. Marie - Chippewa County International 

Airport (CIU) region. 

Thank you for the opportunity for community comment on this critical air service issue. 

Respectfully, 

Kathy ^;Noel' 

Presid^t ^-
Adams, Kevin (OST) 

Sjo^^-^^ ^^^^ ^ O^O^ 

From: CCEDC [ccedc@sault.com] 

Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2011 12:02 PM 

To: EAS (OST) 

Subject: Emailing: Community EAS comments 

Attachments: Community EAS comments.pdf 

Attached please find comnnents of the Economic Development Corporation of Chippewa County concerning 

EAS service & subsidy proposals for Sault Ste. Marie - Chippewa County International Airport (CIU), reference 

DOT-OST-2009-0303. 

Kathy Noel 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 

of CHIPPEWA COUNTY 

Phone: 906/495-5631 i 

email: noeledc@lighthouse.net 0 

Your message is ready to be sent with the following file or link attachments: - ; : 

Community EAS comments 

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