Order 20 10 - 5 - 12 Served: May 11 , 2010 

### UNITED STA

TES OF A MERICA DEPA RTMENT OF TRA NSPORTA TION OFFICE OF THE SECRETA RY WASHINGTON, D.C. Issued by the Department of Transportation on the 11 th day of Ma y , 20 10 Essential Air Service at AL PENA , MICHIGA N S AU LT STE. MA RIE, MICHIGA N INTERNA

TIONA L FA LLS, MINNESOTA TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI under 49 U.S.C. 41731 et seq . DOCKET OST - 2009 - 0300 DOCKET OST - 2009 - 0303 DOCKET OST - 2009 - 0304 DOCKET OST - 2009 - 0305

ORDER EXTENDING SERVICE OBLIGA TION Summary By this order, the Department of Transportation extends the essential air service (EAS) obligation of Mesaba Aviation , Inc. (Mesaba) , at the above - captioned communities , for an additional 30 day s, through June 1 4 , 2010 . 1 Background On July 14 , 200 9 , Mesaba filed a 90 - d ay notice of its intent to suspend its subsidized service at eight communities, including the four communities captioned above, effective October 12 . By Order 200 9 - 7 - 16 , July 16 , 200 9 , the Department prohibited the carrier from suspending service through November 12 at the communities, and requested proposals, with subsidy if necessary , from carriers interested in providing replacement service . As required by 49 U.S.C. 41734, we have extended Mesaba ’s service obligation for additional 30 - day periods, the latest through May 1 4 , 2 010 , by

Order 2010 - 3 - 33 . By Order 2009 - 10 - 8, issued October 16, 200 9, the Department : (1) selected Sky West Airlines to provide replacement service at Eau Claire, WI , Hancock/Houghton and Muskegon, MI , and Paducah, KY; and (2) reque sted proposals from carriers interested in providing replacement service at Alpena and Sault Ste. Marie, MI , International Falls, MN, and Tupelo, MS. Sky West inaugurate d service at Muskegon and Paducah on February 11, and at Eau Claire and Hancock/Houghto n on February 28. Although we expect to issue a decision in the very near future , the carrier - selection process is still in pro gr ess at four communities captioned above . 1 Since June 13 th is a Sunday, this hold - in period will end on Monday, June 14 th . (See 14 CFR 302.08)2

Therefore, i n accordance with 49 U.S.C. 41734(c), we will require Mesaba to provide the service levels at those communities as prescribed in the ordering paragraphs of Order 2009 - 7 - 16 , until replacement service is fully in place . This order is issued under authority assigned in 14 CFR 385.12(k)(5). AC CORDINGLY, 1. We require Mesaba Aviation , Inc., to maintain the level of essential air service at the above captioned communities as described in Order 2009 - 7 - 16 , as adjusted by Order 2009 - 8 - 10 , for an additional 30 day s , through June 1 4 , 20 10 , or until suitable replacement service actually begins, whichever occurs first ; 2 2. We direct Mesaba Aviation, Inc., to retain all books, records, and other source and summary documentation to support subsidy claims for pay

ment, and t o preserve and maintain such documentation in a manner that readily permits its audit and examination by representatives of the Department. Such documentation shall be retained for seven years or until the Department indicates that the records may be destroyed, whichever comes first. Copies of flight logs for aircraft sold or disposed of must be retained. The carrier may forfeit its compensation for any claim that is not supported under the terms of this order; 3. The s e docket s will remain open until f urther order of the Department; and 4. We will serve copies of this order on the mayor s and airport manager s of Alpena and Sault Ste. Marie, MI , Tupelo, MS, and on Mesaba Aviation , Inc. Persons entitled to petition the Department for review of this orde r under the Department’s Aviation Economic Regulations, 14 CFR 385.50, must file such petitions within ten (10) days after the date of service of this order. This order will be effective immediately , and the filing of a petition for review shall not preclude its effectiveness. By :
TODD M. HOMAN Director Office of Aviation Analy sis (SEAL) An electronic version of this document is available on the W orld W ide W eb at www.re gulations .gov

2 In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 41734(c), w e will extend Mesaba ’ s service obligation for successive 30 - day periods, as necessary, until suitable replacement service actually begins.