### -~The

### ~Jackson

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## Laboratorv / Jill M. Coldthwait I)tri'dur, (!/It<<' o/ ( ·<'L'r'rl!nt,'nl P,•f,lft<li1S:

Megan Rae Rosia Vice President. Govemment and Regulatory Amtirs Colgan Air. Inc. One Commerce Square 40 S. Main Street Memphis, TN 38103 Dear Ms. Rosia. September21
_20II

The announcements coming from Colgan Airhave rapidly gone from bad to worse. First it was the elimination ofthe first outbound and last inbound flights ofthe day at BHB Airport as of October 1. 2011. This leaves a schedule that is neither '·well-timed"nor ··well-spaced" as required by the EAS contract, eliminatingthe opportunity for same-daytravel to Boston and back. Next came notice ofcomplete te1mination ofColgan Air service at BHB. According to your notice oftermination, this would occuras ofDecember 8. 2011 or when a replacement carrier is identified, whichevercomes first. How is this possible when the current Essential Air Service contractis in effect until October 31, 2012? Both ofthese decisions would have a negative impact on The Jackson Laboratory and ourregion. Though tourist activity certainly decreases in the winter, activity remains high for employees of The Jackson Laboratory and otheremployers and residents in Hancock County. The Jackson Laboratory, located in BarHarbor, is oneofMaine's largest employers with a workforce ofalmost 1,300. JAX is one ofthe world's leading genetics research facilities and Lab employees are frequent travelers to destinations nationally and around the world. Boston is a commonhub for that travel, and there is no direct air service to Boston from Bangor. Also. there is a steady flow oftraftic into BarHarboras scientists and others aroundthe world come here to work, teach, study orparticipate incourses and conferences. Virtually all arrive by air, and those visitors numberover 1,000 peryear.

207-288-6291 207-288-6297 Fax jill.goldthwait@jax.org www.jax.org 600 Main Street Bar Harbor, ME 04609-1500Senice issues at Bl-18 can be challenging. Coastal fog can affect t1ight schedules. as can crC\\ limitations or a\ailability. A discounted**t:m.~** opportunity \vas discontinued in January 2011. Last year the landing instrumentation system \\as inoperable ti.Jr months, leading to man: !light cancellations. Planes occasionally made unannounced
..stops" in Presque Isle. O\ertlying BHB 

### b\ 200 miles. Nevertheless. a direct flight to Boston, upgraded planes, reasonable fares, the convenient location, free parking, friendly and courteous employees and an efficient boarding process persuadesJAX employees to keep tlying out ofBHB. 1-Io\vever, as service levels decline and there are further interruptions orradical changes in service such as going back to the smaller aircraft that many travelers t(mnd unacceptable, travelers develop alternatives that include driving to Portland or traveling as far as Boston by carorbus. These potential customers \\ill 

### be hard to bring back to BHB. We strongly object to Colgan Air reducing its tlight schedule or leaving BHB until there is comparable service in place for ourregion.

cc: Allison Navia, Airport Manager Hancock County

- Bar Harbor Airport Mr. Herb Thompson Bureau ofTransportation Systems Planning Dana Reed, Bar Harbor Town Manager U.S. Postal Service Attn: Assistant General Counsel -Transportation Sincerely,

Dennis J. Devany, Chief: Essential Air Service Division, X-53 U.S. Department ofTransportation Dustin Hilt, Congressman Michaud's office Dustin.hilt@mail.house.gov Kenneth Altman, Senator Collins' office Kenneth Altman@collins.senate.gov Hancock CountyCommissioners Percy Brown, Fay Lawson and StevenJoy hancock.countv(a)co.hancock.me.us