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)