U.S.Departmentof Transportation Officeofthe Secretary ofTransportation



### Mr. Ronald Ciaravella President DolphinAviation, Inc. 8191 N. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34243 DearMr. Ciaravella: . ' 

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## JUL ..**~_._..,..**



## 52012 1200 NewJersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590



### ·Thankyou for your letter supporting the proposal submittedby the Sarasota Bradenton

International Airportfor a grant underthe U.S. Department ofTransportation's Small Community-Air Service DevelopmentProgram. The Small CommunityAir Service Development Program was established to help smaller communities address air service deficiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares or insufficient service. Underthe statute, the Departmentmay make a maximum of40 grant
·-· ., -awards each year, although no-more than 4·a:wards may be to communities in.the same State. In orderto provide communities with latitude indeveloping solutions to their air service deficiencies, the statute provides flexibility inthe types ofprojectsthat canbe funded. OnMay 15, the Departmentissued an orderrequesting that communities interested in receiving a grant this year file their applications by June 11
.. As these grant requests.are pendingbefore the Department, I cannot comment on the merits ofanyparticularproposal. I assure you that the Department will give full and fair considerationto all proposals thathave beenproperly filed. As is ournormalpractice, I amplacing a copy ofyourletter and this response in Docket DOT-OST-2012-0069 as a contact outside the record ofthismatter. I appreciate your interest in this program. Sincerely yours,

Aloha Ley Associate Director Small Community Program...... -s •··:···

Ms. Aloha Ley Office ofAviation Analysis

_ 1.200 New.Jersey Ave,., SE, W86-31

### 0 Washington, DC 20590 Re: Small Community Air Service Development Program Docket DOT-OST-2012-0069 Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) Dear Ms. Ley: ,._. _ 

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I am writing as President of Dolphin Aviatfon to express our strong support for the above referenced grant application to the Small Community Air Service Development Program. The recent deCision by Southwest Airlines to pull AirTran service from SRQ is a major blow to the air service and economic competitiveness of the entire region served by Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. AirTran accounted for over 360,000 passengers or nearly 30% of all passenger traffic at SRQ in 2011.

.. ., ·•. ·Sarasota· Brac:Jenton also: suffers from a lack of access to a westbou,nd airline gateway. This forces local consumers to drive to other airports, thereby inflicting economic damage on the local economy. A 1997 Economic Impact Study completed as part of the SRQ Master Plan Update revealed that 57% of all enplanements.at SRQ were out of area visitors spending an average of $665.00
· · per visit. Using the CY 2011 ·Air-Tran passenger traffic this equates to 102,600 visitors to th·e SRQ area. When combined with the 100,000 passengers lost due to no westbound service this equates to a loss of over $105,000,000 of direct visitor expenditures annually. When the multiplier effect is factored in it equates to a loss of nearly $285;000,000 of economic impact and 2,600jobs to the area. The community is partnering with the airport to match the grant funds dollar for dollar on this critical matter. We ask the Department consider the serious negative effects the recent approval provided to Southwest Airlines to acquire AirTran Airways has had on our community and approve the application for assistance. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely,

Ronald Ciarave/la, President Dolphin Aviation, Inc.



### . . " . SARASOTA BRADENTON INTERNATIONALAIRPORT 8191 N. TA!\1IAMI TRAIL SARASOTA, FLORIDA 34243 PHONE: 941.355.2902 FAX: 941.355.6441