Order: 2011-12-3

Served: December 12, 2011

 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

 OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

 WASHINGTON, D.C.

Issued by the Department of Transportation

on the 12th day of December, 2011

 Docket DOT-OST-2003-14626

 

 

ORDER REQUESTING PROPOSALS 

Summary

By this order, the Department is requesting proposals from carriers interested in providing 

essential air service (EAS) at West Yellowstone, Montana, for the next two summer seasons 

from June 1 through September 30, 2012, and 2013, with or without subsidy. Proposals are due 

January 24, 2012. (See Appendix A for an area map.) 

Background

By Order 2010-3-30, March 25, 2010, the Department selected SkyWest Airlines, Inc. d/b/a 

Delta Connection (SkyWest) to provide subsidized EAS at West Yellowstone for the 2010 and 

2011 summer seasons at a subsidy rate of $427,757 for each four-month season. Under that 

order, SkyWest provides 14 nonstop round trips per week to Salt Lake City International Airport 

(Salt Lake City) as Delta Connection, with 30-seat Embraer Brasilia aircraft. 

Request for Proposals

In order to give the selected carrier sufficient time to market its services, we request that any carriers 

interested in providing essential air service at West Yellowstone, with or without subsidy, file their 

proposals no later than January 24, 2012. After that date, our staff will docket proposals, thereby

making them public, and direct each carrier to serve a copy of its proposal on the civic parties and 

Essential Air Service at

WEST YELLOWSTONE, MONTANA

under 49 U.S.C. 41731 et seq.
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other applicants. Shortly afterwards, we will provide a summary of the proposals to the community

and ask them to submit their final comments. We will give full consideration to all proposals that 

are timely filed.1 

Interested carriers should prepare their proposals with every expectation that their initial proposals 

will represent their final and only proposals. However, we retain the discretion to negotiate 

proposals with carriers when we deem it desirable; in such cases, of course, we will give all 

applicants the same opportunity. We also retain the discretion to reject outright all unreasonable or 

unrealistic proposals and solicit a new round of proposals. However, negotiation or rejections are 

only occasional exceptions to the rule.

We are here providing interested carriers with some basic information to serve as guidance when 

they prepare their proposals, but we will not prescribe a precise format for their proposals. We 

expect proposals to adequately describe the service being proposed and the annual amount of 

subsidy being requested. The applicants can make their own judgments as to the level of detail 

they wish to present; however, they might want to include proposed schedules as well as 

supporting data for their subsidy requests, such as projected block hours, revenues and expenses. 

We strongly encourage clear, well-documented proposals that will facilitate their evaluation by 

the affected communities and the Department.2

With respect to West Yellowstone, we ask that carriers submit proposals for two round trips per 

day (14 total round trips per week) with 30-seat or larger aircraft or three round trips per day (21

total round trips per week) with 19-seat aircraft to Salt Lake City or Denver International Airport. 

We will also entertain proposals to serve other hubs that provide access to the national air 

transportation system in order to give the Department and the community as broad an array of 

proposals as possible from which to choose. Of course, as always, we will formally solicit the 

community’s views on any service options we receive before making a long-term carrier 

selection decision. The community and air carriers are encouraged to work together in advance 

of the due date for proposals to craft a service pattern that is desirable to the community and 

meets the operational needs of the airline interested in submitting a proposal. 

We encourage proposals that meet these requirements in an efficient manner. Carriers are also 

welcome to propose more than one service option, if they choose; they need not limit themselves 

to those requirements if they envision other, potentially more attractive service possibilities --

different hubs, for example -- with subsidy requirements that remain competitive.

 1 Carriers should not expect the Department to accept late filings. In cases where a carrier proposes to provide 

essential air service without subsidy and we determine that service can be reliably provided without such 

compensation, we typically do not proceed with the carrier-selection case. Instead, we simply rely on that carrier’s 

subsidy-free service as proposed.

2 In selecting a carrier to provide subsidized essential air service, 49 U.S.C. 41733(c) (1) directs us to consider four 

factors: (1) service reliability; (2) contractual and marketing arrangements with a larger carrier at the hub; (3) 

interline arrangements with a larger carrier at the hub; and (4) community views. In addition, the Consolidated 

Appropriations Act, 2008, Public Law 110-161, provides that when selecting a carrier to provide EAS, the 

Department may consider the relative subsidy requirements, thus codifying a factor that we have considered since the 

inception of the program. Interested carriers should also be aware that our general provisions governing essential air 

service will be included in the selection order as part of our authorization of subsidy for the selected service.

Appendix C of this order contains those general provisions. 
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Carrier proposals should be submitted to the Department with all materials merged into a single 

document. The document will be published on Regulations.gov and each page should be 

formatted to be viewed online. 

Service and Traffic History

In order to assist carriers in making their traffic and revenue forecasts, we have included historical 

traffic data in Appendix B. During the 2011 summer season for roughly June 1 through September 

30, 2011, the most recent period for which traffic data are available, West Yellowstone averaged 

42.9 enplanements a day.3

Other Carrier Requirements

The Department is responsible for implementing various Federal statutes governing lobbying 

activities, drug-free workplaces, and nondiscrimination.4 Consequently, all carriers receiving 

Federal subsidy for essential air service must certify that they are in compliance with Department 

regulations regarding drug-free workplaces and nondiscrimination, and those carriers whose 

subsidies exceed $100,000 over the life of the rate term must also certify that they are in 

compliance with the regulations governing lobbying activities. Because the Department is 

prohibited from paying subsidy to carriers that do not submit these documents, all carriers that 

plan to submit proposals involving subsidy should be aware that the selected carrier will be 

required to complete the required certifications. Interested carriers requiring more detailed 

information regarding these requirements should contact the Office of Aviation Analysis at 

(202) 366-5903.5

Community and State Comments

The community and state are welcome to submit comments on the proposals at any time. As 

noted earlier, however, we will provide a summary of the proposals to the civic parties and ask 

them to submit their final comments shortly after January 24, 2012, the due date for proposals.

This order is issued under authority delegated in 49 CFR 1.56a(f) and re-delegated to the 

Director, Office of Aviation Analysis. 

ACCORDINGLY,

1. We request that carriers interested in providing essential air service at West Yellowstone, 

Montana, during June 1 through September 30, 2012, and 2013, submit their proposals, with or 

without requests for subsidy, no later than January 24, 2012. The proposals should be e-mailed 

 3 See Appendix B for historical traffic data. Enplanements represent one-half of total origin-and-destination traffic, 

and average enplanements per day are based on 122 service days (June 1 – September 30). 4 The regulations applicable to these areas are: (1) 49 CFR Part 20 – New restrictions on lobbying; (2) 49 CFR Part 

21 – Nondiscrimination in federally-assisted programs of the Department of Transportation – Effectuation of title VI 

of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; 49 CFR Part 27 – Nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in programs and 

activities receiving or benefiting from Federal financial assistance; and 14 CFR Part 382 – Nondiscrimination on the 

basis of disability in air travel; and (3) 49 CFR Part 29 – Government-wide debarment and suspension (nonprocurement) and government-wide requirements for drug-free workplace (grants).

5 The certifications are also available on the web at http://ostpxweb.dot.gov/aviation/index.html.
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to EAS@dot.gov, with the title: “Proposal to Provide Essential Air Service at West Yellowstone, 

Montana, Docket DOT-OST-2003-14626; 6

2. This docket will remain open until further order of the Department; 

3. We will serve copies of this order on the Mayor and operations manager of the Town of West 

Yellowstone, the Montana Department of Transportation, Aeronautics Division, and the parties

listed in Appendix D. 

Persons entitled to petition the Department for review of this order under the Department’s 

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 Analysis

(SEAL)

An electronic version of this document is available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov

 

 6 Questions regarding filings in response to this order may be directed via e-mail to Brooke Chapman at 

brooke.chapman@dot.gov or via phone at (202) 366-0577.
Appendix A

AREA MAP

This map is provided by Planet Profitability Forecasting System and is being used with express permission 

of the copyright holder, Sabre Airline Solutions®.
Appendix B

WYS Traffic History*

Year Month Airport Outbound Inbound Total traffic

2010 6 WYS 588 721 1309

2010 7 WYS 1338 1352 2690

2010 8 WYS 1313 1301 2614

2010 9 WYS 1194 1038 2232

2010 

Total 4433 4412 8845

2011 6 WYS 1028 1176 2204

2011 7 WYS 1442 1453 2895

2011 8 WYS 1500 1400 2900

2011 9 WYS 1353 1113 2466

2011 

Total 5323 5142 10465

Average daily enplanements at West Yellowstone – 42.89** 

*Source – T-100 Market Report, Passengers in Scheduled Passenger Service, includes traffic for SkyWest 

Airlines only.

**Average daily enplanements is total traffic for 2011 divided by 122 service days (June 1 – September 30) 

divided by 2 (10,465/122/2).
Appendix C

Example of General Terms and Conditions for Essential Air Service

The carrier understands that it may forfeit its compensation for any flights that it does not 

operate in conformance with the terms and stipulations of the rate order, including the 

service plans outlined in the order and any other significant elements of the required 

service, without prior approval. The carrier understands that an aircraft take-off and 

landing at its scheduled destination constitutes a completed flight; absent an explanation 

supporting subsidy eligibility for a flight that has not been completed, such as certain 

weather cancellations, only completed flights are considered eligible for subsidy. In 

addition, if the carrier does not schedule or operate its flights in full conformance with the 

order for a significant period, it may jeopardize its entire subsidy claim for the period in 

question. If the carrier contemplates any such changes beyond the scope of the order 

during the applicable period of these rates, it must first notify the Office of Aviation 

Analysis in writing and receive written approval from the Department to be ensured of 

full compensation. Should circumstances warrant, the Department may locate and select 

a replacement carrier to provide service on these routes. The carrier must complete all 

flights that can be safely operated; flights that overfly points for lack of traffic will not be 

compensated. In determining whether subsidy payment for a deviating flight should be 

adjusted or disallowed, the Department will consider the extent to which the goals of the 

program are met and the extent of access to the national air transportation system 

provided to the community.

If the Department unilaterally, either partially or completely, terminates or reduces payments for 

service or changes service requirements at a specific location provided for under this order, then, 

at the end of the period for which the Department does make payments in the stipulated amounts 

or at the stipulated service levels, the carrier may cease to provide service to that specific location 

without regard to any requirement for notice of such cessation. Those adjustments in the levels of 

subsidy and/or service that are mutually agreed to in writing by the Department and carrier do not 

constitute a total or partial reduction or cessation of payment.

Funds are not currently available for performance under this solicitation beyond [DATE]. 

The Government’s obligation for performance under this solicitation beyond [DATE], is 

contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds from which payment for services 

can be made. No legal liability on the part of the Government for any payment may arise 

for performance under this order beyond [DATE], until funds are made available to the 

Department for performance. If funds are not made available for performance beyond 

[DATE], the carrier will receive notice in writing by the Department.

Subsidy contracts are subject to, and incorporate by reference, relevant statutes and 

Department regulations, as they may be amended from time to time. However, any such 

statutes, regulations, or amendments thereto shall not operate to controvert the foregoing 

paragraph.

All claims for payment must be submitted within 60 days of the last day of service 

provided under this order.
Appendix D

Scheduled Air Carriers, Contiguous US and Puerto Rico

Air Choice One Airlines, Shane Storz Horizon Air, Mike McQueen

Air Greco/Wings Air Horizon Air, Jeff Cole

Air Sunshine, Inc. ICEPR, Luis Irizarry

Air Sunshine, Mirmohammad Adili Intrepid Internatl Air, Rick Eyk

Air West, Inc., John Raatz Island Air Charters, Linda House

Air Wisconsin, Annette Daly Jet Air, Daniel Wolford

Air Wisconsin, Jim Rankin Kenmore Air, Tim Brooks

Airline Associates, Bill Mishk McCall Aviation, Dan Scott

Alaska Airlines, Jeff Cole McCall Aviation, Michelle

Alaska Airlines, Sandy Sinick Mesaba, John Spanjers 

Allegiant Air, Brian Davis Mesaba, Max Shemesh

American Airlines, Carl Nelson Michigan DOT, Matt Brinker

American Eagle, Gary Foss MidStar Airlines, Jeffrey Fonner

American Eagle, Robert Emrich Midwest Airlines, Greg Aretakis

American Eagle, Patrick Swift MN Aviation, Jose Maldonado 

Atlantic Southeast, Jon Lindlief Multi Aero, Darnea

Atlantic Southeast, Roger Weston Multi Aero, Shane Storz

Aviation Express, Brad Shriner Northern Air Cargo, David Karp

Aviation Technologies/Charter Air Transport Northern Air Cargo, Eric Van Andel

Bemidji Aviation, Cori Rude NYDC, Henok Araya

Bemidji Aviation, Arlen Rinkenberger OST, Brian Swanson

Cape Air, Andrew Bonney OST, Brooke Chapman

Cape Air, Dan Wolf OST, Dennis DeVany

Cape Air, J. Flaherty OST, Kevin Adams

Chautauqua, Josh Pascoe OST, Kevin Schlemmer

Classic Aviation, Tony Henderson OST, Michael Martin 

Capital Aviation, Mike Colgan OST, Scott Faulk

Colgan Air, Kevin Scott Pacific Aviation Group, Craig Garrick

Colgan Air, Mike Colgan Pacific Aviation Group, Ron Pye

CommutAir, Andy Price Pacific Wings, Frank Ford

CommutAir, Joel Raymond Pacific Wings, Greg Kahlstorf

Consultant, Michael Mooney PenAir, Danny Seybert

Consultant, Robert Silverberg PenAir, Scott Bloomquist

Consultant, Jeff Hartz Pinnacle Airlines, Jennifer Gammill

Consultant, Ron McNeill Pinnacle Airlines, Megan Rosia 

Continental, Bruce Keiner Pinnacle Airlines, Phil Reed

Continental, Dan Weiss Planemasters, Inc. John Kessler

Continental, Lorry Halloway Planemasters, Inc. Paul Berliner

Delta, Anthony Canitano Planemasters, Inc. Todd DeSimone

Delta, Dan Shuman Raytheon, Mike Scheidt

Delta, Dana Debel Rectrix Aviation, Scott LaForge

Delta, Jeff Davidman Saab Group, Polly Prelinger

Delta, Jeff Morgan Scenic, Mary Schneider

Delta, Joe Esposito Scenic, Mitzi Daines

Delta, Kristal Murphy Seaborne Airlines, Shawn Lewis

Delta, Sally Veith SeaPort Airlines, EAS Mailbox

Delta, Sascha Vanderbellen SeaPort/Wings of Alaska, Rob McKinney

Delta, Stephen A. Hedden Shuttle America, Jerry Balsano 

DHS, Bill Ragan SkyWest, Brad Rawson

DHS, David Bernier SkyWest, Eric Christensen

Dorado Jets SkyWest, Michael Thompson

Dorado Jets, Mark McKenna Sovereign Air, Bob Karns

Era Aviation, Lori Goodman Tatonduk, Robert Everts

Executive Airlines, Kate Soled Tatonduk, Robert Ragar

Frontier Flying, Bob Hajducovich Tradewind, Eric Zipkin 

Frontier Airlines, Daniel Shurz TransStates, Fred Oxley 

Frontline Aviation TransStates, Gerry Wigmore

Gem Air, Dan Schroeder Transport Azumah, Joel Anabilah-Azumah

Gem Air, JoAnn Wolters United, Alicia Gabriel

Great Lakes, Chuck Howell United, James Starnes

Great Lakes, Doug Voss US Airways, Benjamin Slocum

Gulfstream, Dave Hackett US Airways, Howard Kass

Gulfstream, Mickey Bowman US Airways, Jason Reisinger 

Gulfstream, T. Cooper Warbelows Air Ventures, Art Warbelow

Horizon Air, Jennifer Thompson