The Honorable Anthony Foxx 

Secretary of Transportation 

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U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Dear Mr. Foxx: 

BRAPFOAO AREA 

LLIANCE 

July 21, 2014 

!''." 

' I 

The Bradford Area Alliance is responding to DOT Order 2014-6-6 terminating EAS 

eligibility for Bradford Regional Airport. The Alliance requests a waiver to continue Essential 

Air Service at Bradford Regional Airport. 

The Bradford Area Alliance represents the major business and not-for-profit employers in 

the region, including Zippo Manufacturing, Northwest Savings Bank, Case Cutlery, American 

Refining Group, PNC Bank, Bradford Regional Medical Center, the University of Pittsburgh at 

Bradford, McCourt Label, Minard Run Oil, and others. Our CEO-led organization is committed 

to the economic revitalization of our region and has been very actively involved in Bradford 

Regional Airport. Our Executive Director chairs the Airport Advisory Committee and two of our 

members serve on the BRA Authority. 

Alliance member organizations are the primary business users of commercial air service in 

the region. Over half of Zippo's sales are international; its managers, suppliers and customers fly 

throughout the world. Pitt-Bradford students, staff and faculty are frequent travelers to and from 

the main campus in Pittsburgh. All of our member businesses are either national in their scope or 

serve large regions of the country and depend on commercial air service. We consider 

commercial air service to be vital to retain existing businesses and to recruit new businesses to 

our region. 

Because of our commitment to the Bradford airport, the Alliance has strongly encouraged 

its members to consider flying from Bradford whenever they travel. Our companies have also 

encouraged their customers and suppliers to fly to Bradford. When Silver failed to provide any 

marketing support, the airport developed promotional materials demonstrating the advantages of 

flying from Bradford rather than Buffalo- free parking, easy access to the airport, minimal time 

for screening, etc. 

Bradford Area Alliance, Post Office Box 1201, Bradford, Pennsylvania 16701 

,,.·i 
However, beginning with the awarding of the EAS contract to Gulfstream/Silver, it 

became increasingly difficult for us to make an effective argument for flying out of Bradford. 

Our monthly Alliance meetings include a report on airport operations. The initial concern with 

the Gulfstream!Silver contract was that Cleveland was not a convenient connecting hub for our 

business travelers and that the shared service with James town made the flights even more 

inconvenient and unreliable. The final straw for many of our companies: it became common for 

several of our CEO's to report on the negative experiences they or their employees had with 

Silver- cancelled flights, missed connections, poor service, inexperienced or uncooperative 

customer representatives, etc. Over the last several years, business travel by Alliance members 

has almost completely shifted to the Buffalo airport. 

When the last round of EAS proposals were reviewed at an Alliance meeting, the response 

was unanimous and enthusiastic - Sun Air, four daily flights to Pittsburgh, competitive fares, and 

marketing support- Bradford would be a viable option again. We expect strong support from the 

business community and are confident that leisure travelers will follow business traveler in flying 

from Bradford. 

The Bradford Area Alliance believes that awarding the contract to Sun Air with service to 

Pittsburgh will return enplanements to the levels experienced prior to the Gulfstream/SilverJamestown/Cleveland contract. We therefore request that you grant a one-year waiver to continue 

EAS service in Bradford. 

Thank you. 

Sincerely, 

Martin M. Glesk 

Executive Director 

Bradford Area Alliance 

Greg Booth 

President and CEO 

Zippo Manufacturing Co. 

Frederick W. Fesenmyer 

President and CEO 

Minard Run Oil Company 

Julie A. Marasco 

Regional President 

Northwest Savings Bank 

Dr. Livingston Alexander 

President 

University of Pittsburgh at Bradford 

Thomas R. Bromeley 

Chairman 

Allegheny Bradford Corporation 

Timothy J. Finan 

President and CEO 

Upper Allegheny Health System 

Jeannine Schoenecker 

President and CEO 

American Refining Group Inc. 

Dave Ferguson 

President and CEO 

McCourt Label Co. 

John Satterwhite 

Publisher 

The Bradford Era 

Craig Hartburg 

President 

Servco Services 

Harvey L. Golubock 

President 

ARG Resources 

Bradford Area Alliance, Post Office Box 1201, Bradford, Pennsylvania 16701 
Gregory R. Reese 

Vice President Relationship Manager 

PNC Financial Services Group 

Hon. Christopher G. Hauser 

Judge 

McKean County Court of Common Pleas 

Dr. Richard McDowell 

President Emeritus 

University of Pittsburgh at Bradford 

Richard Seager 

President and CEO 

Beacon Light Behavioral Health Systems 

Bradford Area Alliance, Post Office Box 1201, Bradford, Pennsylvania 16701