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250023 AIRPORT TERMINAL STREET, STE 10 

SCOTTSBLUFF, NE 69361-7627 

OFFICE: 308-635-4941 

866-635-4941 

FAX: 308-632-7361 

www. flvscottsbluff. com 

July 9, 2014 

Mr. Michael F. Martin 

United States Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

RE: EAS Docket OST-2003-14535 

Dear Mr. Martin: 

...... 

t..·.,) 

We are in receipt of the Essential Air Service (EAS) bid that was submitted on June 12, 

2014 by Great Lakes Aviation. The Board of the Airport Authority of Scotts Bluff County 

(Western Nebraska Regional Airport) and I have reviewed the bid and our comments are stated 

below. 

Great Lakes has submitted three possible bids, none of which has been explained in great 

detail. However, the first bid of 9 seats on a 1900D they have said 10,000 passengers at $104.98 

at $1,049,800.00 with a total annual calculation of$2,443,523.00. We bring this up because on a 

9 passenger plane for 3 flights daily 365 days a year we cannot even make a 10,000 passenger 

count. With their current record of cancellations and the public distrust in their reliability this 

puts us at our lowest level of enplanements in years and at an increase of just over $1,000,000.00 

to the EAS program. It seems like a loss for both Scottsbluff and the EAS program. 

The second bid with a 19 seat Beachcraft 1900 with 20,000 passenger count and an 

annual calculation of$1,765,849.00 is just higher than the cost last year. We would need further 

clarification of the time frame to restore back to the 19 passenger plane. 

As with the third bid of a 3 7 seat or larger RJ of two round trips per week day and two 

round trips over the weekend which would be the most desirable. Even with this being at the 

same cost and with Great Lakes wanting us to commit to "full community marketing support" 

we need more clarity and definitive answers on the bid from Great Lakes. What is their 

definition of "full community marketing support"? At the present time Great Lakes does not 

hold any RJ's in inventory, what is the timeline for them to secure RJ's, what reliability 

assurances would we have, etc.? 

• ........ j 
I, I 

Mr. Michael Martin 

EAS bid 2014 

July 9, 2014 

Unfortunately after careful consideration we would like to reject the Great Lakes 

Aviation bid and request that the Department of Transportation commence with a re-bid for our 

market. To recap the reason for rejection, a list is stated below: 

1) Detailed information on each individual bid, 

2) Pertinent information concerning the B 1900 and RJ bids and timeline of service 

availability. 

3) Definition of"full community marketing support" 

We have always done our best to work with Great Lakes in the past and appreciate their 

bid this year and hope they will bid again in the rebid process but that they will be much more 

descriptive and clear in their new bid along with any new bidders. 

We fully appreciate the D.O.T. and the E.A.S. program to help us better our airport and 

community. Our airport is very important to us and the viability of the community. Thank you 

and if you have any questions or need further information please contact me. 

DS:cc 

Very truly yours, 

Western Nebraska Regional Airport 

Darwin Skelton 

Airport Director