Mike Allison

Mayor

Howard D. Partington

City Administrator

Robert G. Suelter

City Attorney

Amit Patel

City Clerk

Mr. Kevin Adams

CiREATBEND

Robert L Winiecke. P.E.

City Engineer

Terry Hoff

HRDirector

Judy Manning

Deputy Clerk

Christina Hayes

Community Coordinator

RE: Essential Air Service at Great Bend, Kansas /

DOCKETDOT-OST-1998-3496: Great Bend

January 7,2013

Dear Mr.Adams,

The City of Great Bend welcomes this opportunity to comment on the air carrier

proposals submitted under the captioned Docket. Acommittee of community

leaders, airport advisory members, and airport management have reviewed the two

proposals, and performed interviews with the interested parties. Included in our

analysis were discussions with airport officials from Wichita, Kansas City,and Salina,

and the Federal Security Director for Kansas at the TSA.

While Great Bend has appreciated the service of Great Lakes Aviation during tbese

past two years, we believe the proposal from SeaPort Airlines would best meet the

goals of our community, those of the Essential Air Service Program, and the intent of

the Congress of the United States. Our reasons include the following:

1. Greater frequency of flights, 18 weekly to ICT,with significantly reduced

passenger fares.

2. More reliable aircraft. The Caravan is still in production vs. tbe Beech 1900.

3. The cost savings between the two bids is significant: approximately $541,000.

4. The SeaPort proposal more closely meets the goals of EAS,to provide reliable

air service to rural communities, and allow passenger growth that could

reduce subsidy levels per passenger.

P.O. Box 1168. Great Bend. Kansas' 67530.620.793.4111. Fax 620.793.4108

www.greatbendks.net
5. More reliable service. By any measure, Great Lakes has cancelled

approximately 30% of its scheduled flights for Great Bend since November

2013. As ofjanuary 6, only one scheduled flight into Great Bend has occurred

in 2014.

6. The growth in passenger counts demonstrated by Salina with SeaPort.

7. Wichita is served by a number of carriers, two of which are lowcost(Southwest and Allegiant).

Given the importance of air service to our economic vitality and growth, we

appreciate this opportunity to comment. The City of Great Bend is committed to

making the best use of EAS,and we feel this recommendation is easily justified, both

in terms of cost and benefit to the taxpayer. We are also committed to partner with

SeaPort to significantly enhance our local air service. We believe that our request

and commitment will make the best use of EAS,demonstrate fiscal responsibility to

the American taxpayer, and result in a much more positive economic impact to

central Kansas.

In submitting these comments, Great Bend requests that the U.S.DOTwaive any EAS

program requirements for air service, to include multi-engine and lS-seat

requirements. We agree to SeaPort operations in the Cessna Caravan.

The Great Bend CityCouncil authorized me to submit these comments at their

regular Council Meeting on January 6,2014. Thank you for considering our

comments.

~1{w:

Mike Allison

Mayor

Cc: Senator Pat Roberts

Senator Jerry Moran

Governor Sam Brownback

Congressman Tim Huelskamp