BUSINESS, INDUSTRYANDTOURISM

217 Elm Street I Oil City, PA 16301-1412 I 814.677.3152 I FAX 814.677.5206 I 800.483.6264 I www.oilregion.org
July 22, 2014

The HonorableAnthony Foxx Secretary ofTransportation U.S. Department ofTransportation 1200 New JerseyAvenue, SE Washington, DC 20590

Re: Docket-OST-DOT-1997-2523

Dear Mr. Foxx:

The communities ofFranklin/Oil City and the Venango County Regional Airport were served, on June 24, with the Department ofTransportation Order 2014-6-6; Terminating EAS Eligibility and EstablishingWaiver Procedures for possible continuation or reinstatement ofcommercial air service to the region.

Iwrite todayto express my support for a waiver for Franklin/Oil City so thatthese communities and the Oil Heritage Region, served by the Venango Regional Airport, may have reliable commercial air service that is so vital to the area's economy.

The decline in the numbers ofcommercial passengers using the local air service goes back
to the previous carrier, Mesa, Dba Us airways express, who had significant struggles due to its financially strapped codeshare partner, the downsizing and ultimate elimination ofthat partner's hub airportand spiking oil prices thatdramatically impacted operatingcosts. The airline filed a 90 day notice with the USDOT on May 3 of2007 to terminate its subsidized service to Franklin/Oil City and bids were requested by DOT for a replacement carrierwhile the incumbentwas held in. This delay was difficult for the community as the service that had deteriorated greatly from 2004 through 2006 became even worse in 2007 while the incumbentairline grappled with few viable connections remaining and many flight cancellations due to maintenance and crew issues. The Airline actually wentout of business in May of2008 with two (2) weeks' notice. The community was withoutair service for over three (3) months until September of2008 when Gulfstream International, (now Silver Airways) began operations. This airline, based in Florida, had no experience operating in northern climates and delays and cancellations became problematic as potential passengers avoided the uncertaintyofflying from Franklin. Rebuilding the
customerbase became the sole responsibility ofthe local Airport as the airline did not participate in or cooperate with marketing and promotional efforts. The Airport has provided ground transportation for passengers affected by airline flight irregularities many times over the past 5 years in an effort to maintain any possible degree ofcustomer goodwill for the future.There has been so much negative press and headlines duringthe pastfew years about the possible loss ofservice through funding and mostrecently the airline's notice to depart the market altogether. This has further exacerbated the problems faced by theAirport and the Community trying to attract customers back to the local air service.

Seeking improvements; theAirportManager at Venango Regional Airporthas represented this region on the PennsylvaniaAir Service Committee (PASC) since its inception in 2007 and has worked with colleagues, the Pennsylvania DepartmentofTransportation- Bureau ofAviation and representatives ofthe Pittsburgh International Airport to restore service to PIT which is the preferred and natural connectorfor air passengers from this region. There is an opportunity now to regain service to PIT with an aircarriercommitted to this community operatinga business model that has proven successful in many small communities; relatively high frequency, 9 passenger aircraft, reasonable fares and viable connectivity to majorairlines as well as low cost carriers, (LCCs).

The three, (3) airlines that bid on Franklin/Oil City service to PIT all presented essentially that same business model as the mostviable solution to improve passengertraffic and allow the communityto satisfy EAS minimum requirements ofnot only the 10 enplanements per day but also attain and maintain the $200 subsidy perpassenger rule. We look to the US DOT to allow Franklin/Oil City to startservice to PIT under a waiver in orderto provide reliable, timely air service to the region through the restoration ofthe connection to PIT.

Thankyou.

Sincerely,**~----~~~~~--~~~~~~~ ~.**  

## J n R. Phillips II

resident/CEO

Cc: Senator Bob Casey Congressmen Glenn Thompson Governor Tom Corbett Barry Schoch, P.E. Commissioners, County ofVenango File