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STAT E O F MICHIGA N JENNIFE R M . GRANHOL

M DEPARTMEN T O F TRANSPORTATIO N KlR KT . STEUDLE GOVERNO R , ^, . , DIRECTO R LANSIiN G Ma y 3 , 201 0 

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- \^^<\'en s Mr . Denni s DeVan y Chief , Essentia l Ai r

Servic e Division , X-5 3 Offic e o f Aviatio n Analysi s U.S . Departmen t

o f Transportatio n Roo m640 1 40 0 Sevent hStreet , S W Washington , D.C . 2059 0 Reference : Docke t

Number s 15128,5175 , 1266 , & 171 1 Dea r Mr . DeVany : A s th e agenc y responsibl e fo r promotin g ai r

servic e developmen t

i n th e state , th e Michiga n Departmen t

o f Transportation

- Burea u o f Aeronautic s an dFreigh t Service s appreciate s th e opportunit y t o provid e inpu t o n th e Essentia l Ai r

Servic e (EAS ) selectio n fo r Gogebic-Iro n County , Ford , Maniste e Blacker , an dDelt aCount y Airports . Whil e encourage db y th e interes t o f Charte r Ai r Transpor t

an dSovereig n Ai r

i n ser\'in g thes e airports , w e believ e th e bid s offere db y Mesab aAirline s d/V aDelt aConnectio n fo r servic e a t For dan dDelt aCount y Airport s bes t mee t th e community' s needs . Mesaba' s reliabilit y ha s bee n exceptiona l an dthe y hav e demonstrate dacommitmen t t o continua l improvemen t o f servic e i n bot hcommunities . Th e carrier , i n partnershi p wit hDelt aAirlines , ha s a n extensiv e hu b networ k offerin g Michiga n traveler s flexible scheduling . Furthermore , Mesaba' s existin g fleet an d infrastructur e appear s sufficien t t o suppor t

th e servic e a s bid . I n addition , ou r

discussion s wit hcommunit y official s reveale dthei r preferenc e fo r

th e thir d optio n outline di n Mesaba' s bid . Thi s optio n include s servic e t o bot hDetroi t an dMirmeapoli s hub s an dwoul doffe r

myria dconnectin g opportunities . Th e diversit y o f thi s schedul e provide s a greate r chanc e fo r

ai r servic e i n thes e communitie s t o eventuall y becom e self-sufficient . Wit hreferenc e t o Gogebic-Iro n Count y (IWD ) an dManiste e Blacke r (MBL ) airports , w e reques t tha t USDO T awar dservic e t o Grea t Lake s Airlines . W e reques t tha t USDO T negotiat e a prorate dawar dt o reflec t servic e t o onl y IW D an dMB L(a s oppose dt o th e origina l four

communit y bid) . W e believ e Grea t Lake' s servic e proposa l i s th e mos t likel y t o succee di n meetin g th e transportatio n need s o f thes e communities .

AERONAUTIC S BUILDIN G • 270 0 POR T LANSIN G ROA D • LANSING , MICHIGA N 4890 6

www.michigan.go v• (517 ) 335-928 3 LH-LAN- 0 (01/03 )

### Mr . Denni s DeVany

Pag e 2 Mays , 201 0 Onc e again , thank

you fo r the opportunit

y t o participate i n the carrier selectio n process . If

you needan y furthe r information , pleas e contac t me a t 517-335-855 6 or

Mat t Brinker a t 517-335

- 9918 . Sincerelv . Geral dE . Edward s Assistant Administrator , Aviatio n Service s Divisio n Burea u o f Aeronautic s & Freight

Service s Michiga n Department

of Transportatio n

cc : Mr . WilliamMarchetti , Manager , For dAirpor t Mr . Duane DuRay , Manager , Gogebic-Iro n Count y Airpor t Mr . Willia mHouse , Manager , Maniste e County-Blacker Airpor t Ms . Conni e Ness , Manager , DeltaCount y Airpor t