Martin, Michael (OST) ^^^^^^^^^^^.^^ 

From: Mike MacPherson [mikedmac@hotmail.com] : '^POril/lTIUr! 

Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 11:57 AM rlCPFRAliONS 

To: EAS (OST) 

Cc: Sharon Campbell; Larry Clark; scottw@flypresqueisle.com ,iT r. ^ '-> A \p- ^' ' 

Subject: Presque Isle, Maine EAS bids '* ^'-- •^ '"' ''" ^••' 

Good morning, Gentlemen and/or Ladies, 

This email is in response to the DOT received bids on EAS for Presque Isle, Maine. Thank you for posting the bids to the 

internet for constituent review as that was helpful to be able to review their bids in their entirety. I have read all three 

bids as well as reviewed the aircraft that each bid proposed to use. I fully suspect the views expressed below are but 

echos of many others but I will continue the discussion. My wife and fly in and out of the Presque Isle airport versus 

driving to Bangor, Portland, or NH because the cost differential after consideration of additional hotel costs, additional 

parking fees, additional meal costs, gasoline costs and, equally important, five or ten or more hours of windshield time, is 

minimal. Granted we would love to have a much larger aircraft with jet speed, but reality does not allow that. We will 

continue to utilize and support the airport as long as fares remain reasonable and as long as the aircraft is a suitable 

aircraft. 

After review of the Air Choice One bid, I can state explicitly that the aircraft proposed is NOT a suitable aircraft. It would 

be fair to predict demise of the airport facility if such an aircraft were to be the choice mode of travel for this bid process. 

The consequences of offering a single engine Grand Caravan on inbound and outbound traffic numbers would be 

disastrous to local tourism as well as the business community. I would urge you to dismiss this bid as unacceptable on 

any level as an EAS proposal. 

After review of the Sovereign bid and doing a bit of research on the aircraft I do have some concerns. First is the 

utilization of BAe Jetstream 41 as the proposed aircraft. The website for the Jetstream 41 shows that only 100 were 

manufactured and NONE are presently in use in the US. If indeed that were a valid fact, I for one, would be very wary of 

safety and reliability of the service. I understand there is discussion around the ability of Sovereign to obtain certification 

to use either of the proposed airframes within the time frame required of the bid process. As for the other aircraft, I 

understand it is the turboprop version of the 328 which puts it in the same class as the SAAB 340 we are all familiar with. 

I will say the quoted airfare of $110 is the preferred number of the proposed fares in the three bids. With the limited 

knowledge of the details available, and the uncertainly of the certification, the Sovereign bid would be questionable. 

That leaves the Peninsula Airways bid. Although we would welcome jet service as we once had prior to de-regulation, we 

have become accustomed to the SAAB 340 and have accepted the fact that the SAAB is realistically the best we can 

forsee for the near future. The projected $142 is higher than expected or desired but we understand and hope that 

negotiations may decrease that somewhat. 

Whatever the decision. Gentlemen and/or Ladies, I urge you to ensure continued safe and reliable air service to Presque 

Isle and Aroostook County. Our location and our economy make air service to our area and our businesses a necessity, 

not a luxury. 

Thank you for your work on our behalf. 

MCchaei/V. MotcPKefKmi Owner 

BSEE, MBA, CM A 

Just Value Associates, PLLC 

P.O. Box 1357 

Presque Isle, Maine 04769 

207-540-1401