Mike Harma

Manager

air:port~Pgogcbic.org

E5560 Airport Road

[ronwood, Michigan 49938

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COUNTY A.IRPORT

Mindy Prcndcrville

Confidential Secretary

iwd@flvfromironwood.com

Phone: (906) 932-3121

Fax: (906) 932-4401

Mr. Kevin Schlemmer

Chief, Essential Air Service Division, X-53

Office of Aviation Analysis

U.S. Department of Transportation

400 7

th SI. SW

Washington, D.C. 20050

February )4,2014

Dear Mr. ScWemmer;

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On February 13, 2014, the Gogebic-Iron County Airport Board held a public

hearing. Community members asked questions and expressed their concerns

ahout the airline 'proposals.

Immediately after the public hearing, a Special Airport Board meeting was held

and the Airport Board unanimously vo.ted in favor of recommending Air Choice

One as the carrier to provide airline service at the Gogebic-Iron County Airport.

The board strongly feels Air Choice One, proposal "Option 2" with a two year

service period, is the best current choice for our community.

We would request DOT's assistance in expediting the consideration and award of

this bid. In earlier conversations, we were told that because we were without

service that it could be possible to complete the necessary process and have our

new carrier up and running by May 1st. I have spoken with Air Choice One and

they believe they could meet this starting service date if approved by DOT.

Gogebic-lron County Airport Board .

Jim Oliver,Chairman. Joe Bonovetz • LeRoyKangas. Paul Mullan! • GeorgeNasi
Finally, we would like to make a record of why we are waiving our standard

service of dual pilots with a twin-engine aircraft. If there is a DOT

policy, custom, rule or regulation that by this selection we are automatically

waiving our right in the future to request twin engine, dual pilot service, we would

like the following factors to be taken into consideration before it is applied:

I. We are presently without airline service, due to Great Lakes unilaterally

terminating service to our commlmity on February 1st, 2014, with but a one

week notice, contrary to the contract awarded to it by DOT and contrary to

DOT regulations requiring a 180 day notice of termination of service.

2. DOT advised us that we should expend our efforts in looking for a

replacement carrier, stating Great Lakes Airlines has a pilot shortage and they

can't fulfil the contract.

3. Great Lakes has not been a reliable carrier.

4. That only two bidders have bid, but Great Lakes Airline's bid is conditioned

upon removing seats from their present aircraft to fly as a chapter 135 air

carrier, which certification they do not have.

5. The only other bidder is Air Choice One, which flies smaller aircraft and is a

certified chapter 135 air carrier.

Air Choice One flies single engine turboprops and has an outstanding reliability

reputation and has bid a schedule that includes early morning flights. We will do

our best to work with this carrier and hope that the change in the size of the

aircraft and the service hub do not have a substantial negative impact on

boardings.

Respectfully submitted,

Michael Harma-lWD

Airport Manager