From: Muldoon, Albert (OST)

To: Rich Sewell (rich.sewell@alaska.gov); LaMonica Claw (LClaw@GulkanaCouncil.org); Jason Hoke

(jhoke@coppervalley.org)

Cc: Copper Valley Air, Dave Parmenter (CVAS@CopperValleyAK.net); Devany, Dennis (OST)

(Dennis.DeVany@dot.gov)

Subject: Essential Air Service at Gulkana, May Creek, and McCarthy, Alaska - Request for Comments - Due September

20, 2012

Date: Thursday, August 30, 2012 9:37:48 AM

Attachments: Copper Valley Air Service 08112012.pdf

All:

I would like to update you on the Essential Air Service (EAS) situation at Gulkana, May

Creek, and McCarthy, Alaska, and give you an opportunity to submit comments on the record

before we submit a recommendation to the Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International

Affairs. As you know, Ellis Air Taxi, Inc. dba Copper Valley Air Service (Ellis Air) is the

current EAS provider at those communities, receiving a combined annual subsidy of

$438,912. Their current contract expires on January 31, 2013. In anticipation of that

expiration, we issued Order 2012-7-28 (July 25, 2012) soliciting proposals from carriers to

provide EAS at those communities for a new contract period beginning February 1, 2013. In

response to our request, only the incumbent, Ellis Air, submitted a proposal which would

maintain the existing level of service at the three communities.

I have attached a copy of the proposal to this email. The proposal can also be accessed online

through the Federal Dockets Management System at www.regulations.gov by entering “DOTOST-1995-492” in the search box. For your convenience, I will briefly summarize the

proposal below.

Ellis Air has proposed to maintain the existing level of service at the three communities. At

Gulkana, they would provide two round trips to Anchorage per week, utilizing twin-engine

Piper PA-31 aircraft with six passenger seats. Ellis Air may substitute a nine seat Cessna 441

when warranted by passenger demand. For May Creek and McCarthy, Ellis Air would

provide two weekly round trips to Gulkana. During winter months, service would be

provided on three passenger Cessna 185 aircraft. In summer, service would be on four

passenger Cessna 206 aircraft. Ellis Air may substitute six passenger a de Havilland DHC-2

Beaver when warranted by passenger demand.

The schedules that the carrier has proposed are illustrative only, and they may make schedule

changes to reflect changing conditions (e.g. to better meet shifting connecting bank times at

the hub). The Department expects subsidized carriers to maintain well-timed and wellspaced flights in order to ensure full compensation.

We request that you review the proposal and submit any comments you may have as soon as

possible, but no later than September 20, 2012. We will carefully consider your comments

before we submit a recommendation to the Assistant Secretary for a decision.

Please send your comments via email to EAS@dot.gov or by fax to (202) 366-7638. If you

have any questions, please feel free to contact A.J. Muldoon of my staff at

albert.muldoon@dot.gov or (202) 366-1058.

Sincerely,
Dennis J. DeVany

Chief, Essential Air Service Division, X-53

Office of Aviation Analysis

Cc: McCarthy Area Council (by U.S. mail)