Order 2014-2-12

Served: February 11, 2014

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Issued by the Department of Transportation

on the 18th of February, 2014

Essential Air Service at

HURON, SOUTH DAKOTA

Under 49 U.S.C. 41731 et seq. 

DOCKET DOT-OST-2000-7138

ORDER APPROVING ALTERNATE SERVICE PATTERN

Summary

By this Order, the Department is approving the request of Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. (Great 

Lakes) to alter Huron, South Dakota’s (HON) service pattern by allowing service to Denver, 

Colorado (DEN) in lieu of Minneapolis, Minnesota (MSP).

Background

By Order 2012-8-22, August 20, 2012, the Department selected Great Lakes to provide 

subsidized Essential Air Service at Huron for an annual subsidy amount of $1,929,349. In that 

Order, Great Lakes was selected to provide 12 nonstop round trips to MSP using Beech 1900 

aircraft for a two-year period from October 1, 2012, through September 30, 2014. 

Carrier Proposal

In a January 24, 2014, e-mail, the Department was notified of Great Lakes’ request to alter 

HON’s current service pattern by changing its service to DEN from MSP. Huron’s service to 

DEN would operate with a stop in Pierre, South Dakota. The community says it will accept the 

change, if the stop in Pierre doesn’t negatively impact Huron’s seat availability, which it states 

has happened in the past.

Community Comments

Larry Cooper, the Manager of Huron Regional Airport, notified the Department that he supports 

Great Lakes’ request to change its service pattern at Huron as described above.

Decision

We will approve Great Lakes Aviation’s request, which meets the three conditions necessary for 

approval under authority assigned under 14 CFR 385.12(k) (3) of the Department’s Regulations: 

(1) the alternate service pattern is equal to or greater than that determined to be essential; (2) the 
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community does not object to the alternate service pattern; and (3) the alternate service pattern 

will not increase Great Lakes Aviation’s subsidy.

Because we are simply allowing the alternate service pattern and not requiring it, Great Lakes

may revert to the original service pattern at any time.

This order is issued under authority delegated in 49 CFR 1.25a (b) (4) and re-delegated to the 

Director, Office of Aviation Analysis.

ACCORDINGLY,

1. We approve the alternate service pattern requested by Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd., to serve 

Huron, South Dakota, with service to Denver, at the annual subsidy rate and payout formula set 

forth in Appendix B of Order 2012-8-22;

2. This docket will remain open until further order of the Department; and

3. The Department will serve a copy of this order on the mayor of Huron, South Dakota, the 

airport manager of Huron Regional Airport, and Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd.

Persons entitled to petition the Department for review of this Order under the Department’s 

Regulations, 14 CFR Part 385.31, must file such petitions within seven (7) days after the date of 

service of this Order. 

This order will be effective immediately, and the filing of a petition for review shall not preclude 

its effectiveness.

By:

TODD M. HOMAN

Director

Office of Aviation Analysis

(SEAL)

An electronic version of this document is available at

www.regulations.gov