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LORIN G COMMERC E CENTR E ^ :;.:] OPERATIONS 

l^il F-B - 2 A iO: 5 5 

January 24, 2012 

The Honorable Raymond H. LaHood 

Secretary of the United Slate Department of Transportation 

Re: Essential Air Service for Presque Isle, Maine 

Dear Mr. Secretary: 

Please accept these comments to the EAS proposals relating to Presque Isle, Maine, by the 

Loring Development Authority of Maine, which is the organization charged with redeveloping 

the former Loring Air Force Base located near Presque Isle in Limestone, Maine. 

The Northern Maine Regional Airport in Presque Isle (PQI) for many years provided a service of 

great importance to our nation's defense, by facilitating the movement of innumerable military 

and civilian passengers between Loring Air Force Base and other parts of the nation. With 

Loring's closure in 1994 and with the region facing a critical need to realign its economy in the 

wake of the economically-devastating loss of Loring, PQI has performed a no-less significant 

role in facilitating the movement of passengers, including many business passengers, to and from 

Loring Commerce Centre as well as other centers of business and commerce in the region. 

Loring Commerce Centre is a regional center for employment and is Maine's largest business 

park according to the business publication Mainebiz. Good progress has been made with 

Loring's redevelopment, with employment levels reaching as high as 1500 with a diverse group 

of new employers in the fields of manufacturing, aviation, research and development, customer 

service and finance and accounting support services, and education. Also, Loring Commerce 

Centre has great potential to develop fiirther and we are currently working with various 

companies to establish or expand their operations here. 

If we are to be a place where businesses can thrive, the region needs to offer a reasonable level of 

passenger air service to the business traveler in particular. Based on my own experience in 

flying from PQI as well as the experience of many business contacts who've visited Loring on 

routine business errands, the following minimum characteristics are of key importance: 

• reliable air service with a Boston connection, from an experienced and reputable carrier; 

• a larger aircraft, i.e., a turboprop aircraft in the 30 to 34-seat class to provide a reasonably 

comfortable and quick flight; 

• for the comfort of the passengers, an aircraft with a tlight attendant and restroom, since 

the flight is of longer duration. 

• offering a range of arrival and departure times to permit business travelers to make 

connections and travel efficiently. 

l.orinj! Dcwlopmcni Authority of Maine 

154 Development Drive, Suite I' Limestone. Miiine (W750 

PIK.IU-. (207) 52S-70()'5 lux: (207) 528-6811 u-mail: LDA(a'lorinj;.or}; 
Ideally, the economic development interests of our region are best served by better access to high 

quality air service that is reasonably priced with a sufficient flight frequency to provide travelers 

with good connections and an overall convenient schedule. I am aware that passenger 

enplanements at PQI have diminished over the past decade and I'm sure that many are driving to 

other airports in Maine only because of cost and schedule considerations. 

As levels of service decline, business use of air service will also decline, making the region less 

accessible and inhibiting economic development. Conversely, with improved service, business 

use will increase making the region more accessible to business and making the route more 

profitable for the carrier. 

On behalf of the Loring Development Authority, I would like to thank you for considering the 

connection between quality air service and the level of economic activity that a region can enjoy. 

Very truly yours, 

Carl W. Flora 

President & CEO 

Loring Development Authority of Maine