Order 2010-2-30

Served: February 26, 2010

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Issued by the Department of Transportation

on the 26th day of February, 2010

Essential Air Service at

FORT DODGE, IOWA

MASON CITY, IOWA

Under 49 U.S.C. 41731 et seq. 

DOCKET DOT-OST-2001-10682

DOCKET DOT-OST-2001-10684

ORDER APPROVING ALTERNATE SERVICE PATTERN

Summary

By this order, the Department is approving the request of Mesaba Aviation, Inc. d/b/a Delta

Connection (Mesaba), to alter Fort Dodge’s service pattern from three daily one-stop round trips 

to two daily nonstop round trips to Minneapolis.

Background

By Order 2009-4-20, April 27, 2009, the Department selected Mesaba to provide subsidized 

essential air service at Fort Dodge, in conjunction with Mason City, IA, for the two-year period 

through May 31, 2011. That order established a combined annual subsidy rate of $2,225,213, for 

service consisting of 18 round trips per week over a Fort Dodge-Mason City-Minneapolis 

routing, with 34-seat Saab 340 aircraft.

Carrier Proposal

On February 23, Mesaba requested to alter the current service pattern at Fort Dodge from three 

one-stop round trips each weekday and weekend over Mason City, to two daily nonstop round 

trips directly to Minneapolis. In addition, Mesaba proposes to change the timing of the 

remaining two flights, with the last flight overnighting in Fort Dodge. Service would continue to 

be operated with 34-seat Saab 340 aircraft.

Community Comments

We received letters from the Mayor of Fort Dodge as well as the Fort Dodge Airport 

Commission, indicating that the City Council, City Administration and Airport Commission all 

enthusiastically support Mesaba’s request to alter its service pattern to two daily nonstop round 

trips to Minneapolis.
2

Decision

We will approve Mesaba’s request, which meets the three conditions necessary for approval 

under authority assigned under 14 CFR 385.12(k)(3) of the Department’s Regulations: (1) the 

alternate service pattern is equal to or greater than that determined to be essential; (2) the 

community does not object to the alternate service pattern; and (3) the alternate service pattern 

will not increase Mesaba’s subsidy.

The new service at Fort Dodge calls for 14 round trips per week rather than 18. We must 

therefore adjust the subsidy-per-flight, even though the annual subsidy remains the same. 

Appendix A shows these adjusted calculations.1

Because we are simply allowing the alternate service pattern and not requiring it, Mesaba may 

revert to the original service pattern at any time.

This order is issued under authority delegated in 14 CFR 385.12(k)(4).

ACCORDINGLY,

1. We approve the alternate service pattern requested by Mesaba Aviation, Inc., to serve Fort 

Dodge, Iowa, with two daily nonstop round trips Minneapolis, at the annual subsidy rate 

established by Order 2009-4-20, payable as adjusted in Appendix A of this order;

2. Docket DOT-OST-2001-10682 will remain open until further order of the Department; and

3. The Department will serve a copy of this order on the mayor and airport manager of Fort 

Dodge, and Mesaba Aviation, Inc.

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 World Wide Web at

www.regulations.gov

 1 There is no change to Mason City’s subsidy per flight because its service remains at 18 round trips per week.
Appendix A

MESABA AVIATION, INC. d/b/a DELTA CONNECTION

ANNUAL COMPENSATION REQUIREMENT FOR ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE AT

FORT DODGE, IOWA

(ADJUSTED)

Effective period: Upon implementation, through May 31, 2011

Service: 14 nonstop round trips per week to Minneapolis

Aircraft type: Saab 340 aircraft (34 seats)

Timing of flights: No upline or intermediate service is permitted without prior 

Department approval. Flights must be well-timed and well-spaced in 

order to ensure full compensation.

Annual compensation: $2,225,213

Subsidy Rate Per

Arrival/Departure: $7881

Weekly Compensation 

Ceiling: 2 $22,0643 

___________________________

1

 Annual compensation of $2,225,213 divided by two, divided by 1,412 annual arrivals and departures 

calculated as follows: 28 flts/week x 52 weeks x 97% completion = 1,412 2

 This rate assumes an annual completion factor of 97 percent. A compensation ceiling is to be applied 

per calendar week such that service above that ceiling in one week cannot make up for service shortfalls 

in another week.

3

 Subsidy rate per arrival/departure of $788 multiplied by 28 eligible arrivals and departures.