CITY OF OIL CITY 

CITY PLAZA • 21 SENECA STREET 

OIL CITY, PENNSYLVANIA 16301 

July 22, 2010 

Mr. Dennis J. De Vany 

Chief, Essential Air Service Division, X-53 

Office of Aviation Analysis 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

Dear Mr. De Vany: 

I am writing to you in support of the Gulfstream Int'l Airlines proposal, Option One 

(1), to provide scheduled air service to Franklin/Oil City (FKL) under the Essential Air 

Service program. Franklin/Oil City (FKL) lost air service along with other EAS 

communities in May of 2008 when the contracted air carrier ceased operations. Service 

was reinitiated on September 3, 2008 with Gulfstream IntI Airlines operating as 

Continental Connection through the Continental Airlines hub in Cleveland, Ohio. 

The effort to regain the travel market lost due to the three months without air 

service is on-going and substantial. Additionally, the nation experienced the worst 

recession in the past fifty (50) years almost as soon as Gulfstream began FKL service. 

The economic "recovery" has been sporadic nationwide and negligible, thus far, 

in the Franklin/Oil City area. This region, which had been particularly devastated even 

prior to 2008 due to plant closings and layoffs, has been working to reinvent its 

economy. The 2008 recession was a further setback. 

Just a little over a year into the new air service, in November, 2009, began the 

worst winter in many years. December, January and February saw the air carrier 

cancel sixty-five (65) FKL flights due to weather. That's twenty-one percent of the FKL 

flights for those months. Additionally, the travel market was negatively impacted in 

2008 and 2009 by the SARS virus and the Swine Flu. 

These issues really caused a set-back for a fragile market that was already 

shaken due to the lost service earlier in the year. 

PHONE: 814-678-3012 • FAX: 814-678-3086 
Page 2 

The communities of Franklin/Oil City support Gulfstream's Option #1 service 

through Cleveland and will work closely with the Airport and Gulfstream through the 

Save our Service (SOS) effort to improve passenger enplanements again be under the 

$200.00 per passenger cap. The service offered using Cleveland as a hub gives this 

community more non-stop destinations and reasonable connections and fares. 

Gulfstream has proven to be very customer-conscious and the Continental 

Connection/Continental brand is becoming a favorite in this region. The Airport works 

closely with the public and the air carrier on communication and customer service as 

well as providing a cost-free business environment for the carrier. These facts will 

make the SOS effort successful. 

The citizens of Franklin and Oil City as well as the entire Oil Heritage Region 

want the timely, dependable air service proposed by Gulfstream and request that the 

Department of Transportation provide this change to continue the rebuilding of this 

economy. Gulfetream's Option 1 can serve as a huge stimulus to this region. 

The region is experiencing the beginnings of a positive trend in business 

development thanks to the hard work of our legislators and community leaders. 

Meaningful, scheduled air service is a key element in the success of this venture. This 

rural area should be allowed to compete with the larger urban areas on a level playing 

field. Viable commercial air service helps level that playing field and is necessary for 

business development and sustained economic growth. 

We ask that you recommend this proposal to the Deputy Secretary. 

Thank you for your work on the Essential Air Service program on behalf of the 

communities of Franklin/Oil City and the Oil Region. 

Very ini)>fi yours. 

Lee Mehlburger ^' ' 

Oil City Councilman 

LM/jIk