U.S.Depaltmentof Transportation OfficeoftheSectefary ofTransportation



### Dr. Terry Grimm Presidentand SeniorScientist NIOWAVE 1012 North Walnut Street Lansing, MI 48906 DearDr. Grimm: Assistant Secretory 1200 NewJersey Avenue, SE

·Washington, DC 20590 

## SEP 14 2015

Thankyou for yourletter regarding continued service between Lansing's Capital Region International Airport (LAN) and Ronald Reagan WashingtonNational Airport (DCA). As you noted, Sun Country has announcedthatit will discontinue that service on October 1, 2015, and you supportAmerican Airlines' request to replace Sun Country's nonstop LAN-DCA service. Secretary Foxx has asked me to respond onhis behalf. As you may be aware, the Department ofTransportation (Department) along withthe Federal AviationAdministration (FAA) enabled this service by granting Sun Country two slot exemptions (over and above the slot ceiling) at DCA. The exemptions were granted explicitly to Sun Country to provide nonstop LAN-DCA service with the proviso thatthey be returned to the FAA ifSun Country ceased operations in the LAN-DCA market. Since Sun Country announced thatthe service will be discontinued, the Departmenthas received aproposal from American Airlines to provide replacementnonstop LAN-DCA service. The FAA has opened a docket for this proceeding (FAA-2015-3491), with public comments on the matter due by September 17,2015. We are currently reviewing what steps to take next. Ihave sent a similarresponse to each cosignerofyourletter. IfIcan provide further information orassistance, please feel free to contact me. As is our normal practice, I am placing acopy of your letter and this reply in the docket. Sincerely,

Susan L. 

### Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International AffairsU.S.Departmentof Transportation OfficeoftheSecretary ofTransportation

Mr. Mark P. Sinila ChiefFinancial Officer NIOWAVE 1012 North Walnut Street Lansing, MI 48906
DearMr. Sinila: Assistant Secretary 

## SEP 14 2015 1200 NewJersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590

Thank you for your letter regarding continued service between Lansing's Capital Region International Airport (LAN) and Ronald Reagan WashingtonNational Airport (DCA). As you noted, Sun Country has announced that it will discontinue that service on October 1, 2015, and you support American Airlines' request to replace Sun Country's nonstop LAN-DCA service. Secretary Foxx has asked me to respond on his behalf.
As you may be aware, the Department ofTransportation (Department) along withthe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) enabled this service by granting Sun Country two slot exemptions (over and above the slot ceiling) at DCA. The exemptions were granted explicitly to Sun Country to provide nonstop LAN-DCA service with the proviso that they be returned to the FAA ifSun Country ceased operations in the LAN-DCA market. Since Sun Country announced that the service will be discontinued, the Department has received a proposal from American Airlines to provide replacement nonstop LAN-DCA service. The FAA has opened a docket for this proceeding (FAA-2015-3491), with public comments onthe matter due by September 17,2015. We are currently reviewing what steps to take next.
I have sent a similar response to each cosigner ofyour letter. Ifl can provide further information or assistance, please feel free to contact me. As is our normal practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and this reply in the docket. Sincerely,

Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International AffairsU.S.Departmentof Transportation OfficeOftheSecretary OfTransportation



### Mr. Jerry Hollister ChiefOperating Officer NIOWAVE 1012 North Walnut Street Lansing, MI 48906 DearMr. Hollister: Assistant Secretary 

## SEP 14 2015 1200 NewJersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590



### Thankyou for your letterregarding continued service between Lansing's Capital Region International Airport (LAN) and Ronald Reagan WashingtonNational Airport (DCA). As you noted, SunCountry has announced that it will discontinue that service on October 1,2015, and you supportAmerican Airlines' requestto replace Sun Country's nonstop LAN-DCA service. Secretary Foxx has 

### asked me to respond on his behalf. As you may be aware, the DepartmentofTransportation (Department) along with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) enabled this service by granting Sun Countrytwo slotexemptions (over and above the slot ceiling) at DCA. The exemptions were granted explicitly to Sun Country to

### provide nonstop LAN-DCA service with the proviso thatthey be returnedto the FAA ifSun Country ceased operations inthe LAN-DCA market. Since Sun Country announced that the service will be discontinued, the Departmenthas receiveda 

### proposal fror:n American Airlines to provide replacement nonstop LAN-DCA service. The FAA has opened a docketfor this proceeding (FAA-2015-3491), withpublic comments on the matter due by September 17, 2015. We are currently reviewing what steps to take next I have sent a similarresponse to each cosigner ofyourletter. IfI can provide further information orassistance, please feel free to contactme. As is ournormal practice, Iam placing a copy of your letterand this reply inthe docket. Sincerely,

Susan L. Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International AffairsAugust 13,2015 Secretary Anthony Foxx U.S. Department ofTransportation 1200 NewJersey Avenue SE Washington, DC 20590 

# NIOWAVE, INC l012 N01tb Walnut Street Lansing, Ml 48906 Phone: (517)**999~3475**

Fax: (517) 999-3626 www.niowaveine.com

RE: American Airlines Slot Exemption- Docket Number FAA.-2012-0089
We respectfully ask the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to immediately authorize American Airlines' request to continue nonstop daily air service between Capital Region Internatiqnal Airport (LAN) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
Our Lansing based company, Niowave Inc., builds superconducting accelerators for a number of federal agencies. Officials from our company have regularly taken the LAN-DCA Hight to meet \vith Department ofEnergy, Department ofDefense and Department of Homeland Security officials. We would continue to use this route on a regular basis should Atnerican Airlines' request be approved. In addition to regularNiowave passengers, numrrous US Government officials have used the LAN-DCA route as a convenient way to visit our site. 'These visitors include a US Senator and a US Navy AdmiraL Having a convenient and low cost direct night to Washington has helped our business grow, and a continued route will fm1her aid our expansion et1orts.
Your at11rmative decision will help 

### till the void created by Sun Country Airlines' decision to end its LAN-DCA flights on October 

### 1, 2015. The LAN-DCA route is vital to maintaining low fares and convenient schedules for passengers such as Niowave staff that regularly travel to Washington and more than 30 other destinations in the eastern United States. Equally important, American Airlines also has pledged to introduce three daily flights in 2016 from Lansing to Chicago O'Hare International Airport {ORD), providing mid-Michigantravelers with direct connections to 115 destinations. Again, we urge immediate approval by the U.S. Department ofTransportation and Federal Aviation Administration of American Airlines' application to begin providing service from Lansing to Washington, D.C., on November 2015. Thank you for considering ourrequest.

# ~~**D~rryGrimm** President & Senior Scientist Mark Sinila ChiefFinancial Ofticer

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### 510-150821-010