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mk • .-PARTMENT OF 

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:.ET OPERATIONS 

IIRECTOR 

Si ATE OF MICHIGAN 

RICKSNYDER DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ^ ,, .KlRX^X.-SJEjJDLE 

GOVERNOR , 1 :n [•qy il l A ! ; Q OIR—" " 

November 5, 2OH 

Mr. Dennis DeVany 

Chief, Essential Air Service Division 

Office of Aviation Analysis 

US Department of Tisanspgrtation 

1200_^N.evj Jersey Ave, SE 

Washington, DC 2 059 0 

RE: DOT-OST-2009CJOO, DOT-OST-2003-15128, DOT-OST-1999-5175, DOT-OST-2011-

0133, DOT-OST-2009-0303 

Dear Mr. DeVany: 

The Michigan Department of Transportation, Office of Aeronautics is the 

agency responsible for the preservation and promotion of air service 

throughout the State of Michigan. 

As such, we offer the following comments i.n response to the proposals 

received under the respective USDOT dockets: 

DOT-OST-2009-0300 (Alpena Comity Regional Airport) 

Vie concur with the position expressed by the Alpena County Board of 

Commissioners that extensioiL of the due date for response to the RFP 

would be in the community's best interest. The proposals received, to 

dcite, would not adequately address the vital transportation needs of the 

community. 

Please consider extending the due date for the RFP, or reopening the 

selection process. This will allow additional time for the cominunity to 

seek out alternatives providers/proposals. 

DOT-OST-2003-15128 (Delta County Airpor ti( B S C 6i^^^ ] 

We believe the proposal offered by Delta Airlines provides the greatest 

economic benefit and job creation opportunities for the greater Delta 

County Service .'^rea. 

We support selection of "Option 1" as outlined in Delta's proposal. The 

associated schedule offers 14 round trip flights per week - a level of 

necessary to provide the greatest economic benefit to the community. 

DOT-OST-1999-5175 (Ford Airport) ( )^^'*- ^ V^IX iX-w'^<2-«-W 

We support selection of the proposal offered by Great Lakes Airlines. 

The service outlined in their proposal would provide a superior schedule 

as well as the stability of an established, certified air carrier. 

Great Lakes' proposal, also offers appropriate-sized aircraft which would 

better serve the cornm.unities served by Ford Airport. 

MURRAY D VAN WAGONER BUILDING • PC. BOX 30050 • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909 

swvvw.michigan.gov • (517) .373-2090 

LH-LAN-0 (01/11) 
Mr. Dennis DeVany 

Page 2 

November 5, 2 J.;. 1 

DOT-OST-2011-0133 (Pellston Regional Airport) 

While the single respondent to the RFP, Delta Airlines offered three 

service options with varying subsidy requirements. We believe "Option 

1," which provides 14 weekly flights throughout the year, offers the 

greatest benefit to the community. 

T]ie schedule under Option 1 offers consistency and, likely, more reliable 

service. This is particularly true given the unpredictable v;eather 

experienced in Northern Michigan. The uniformity of the schedule will 

also enhance year-round job creation and economic development ent. . _ \ 

DQT-OST-2009-0303 (Chippewa County International Airport) 

We support "Option 1" of Delta Airline's proposal to serve Chippewa 

County International Airport. 

As explained in the previous docket, Option 1 provides a consistent level 

of service which will allow both the maximization of economic development 

opportunities and the schedule reliability necessary to service the 

traveling public. Option 2 does not provide the same level of service 

and would likely result in significant delays for weekend travelers in 

the event of cancelled flight. 

Our office v/ould like to express our appreciation for your continued 

thoroughness and professionalism during what must be an unusually challenging 

period. You and your staff are to be commended for handing the additional 

workload in a seamless fashion. 

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Essential Air Service carrier 

selection process. If you have any questions, please contact me at 517-335-

9918 or brinkerm3mi.gov. 

Sinc^ely, ^...--- -., / 

/ { 

/ 

Matthew V. Brinker 

Air Service Specialist 

Michigan Department of Transportation 

Office of Aeronautics