County of Jefferson 

Office of th e Count y Administrato r 

Historic Courthouse 

195 Arsenal Street, 2"" Floor 

Watertown, NY 13601-2567 

Pbone: (315) 785-3075 Fax: (315) 785-5070 

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November 15,2010 

Dennis J. DeVany, Chief 

Essential Air Service Division 

Office of Aviation Analysis 

U. S. Dept. of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. 

Washington, D. C. 20590 

RE: EAS Community Response 

Docket DOT-OST-1997-2842 

Dear Mr. DeVany: 

Once again, we find ourselves forwarding to you our recommendation relative to future commercial 

air service at the Watertown International Airport. On behalf of Jefferson County's Airport Advisory 

Committee and, therefore, the Board of Legislators, I appreciate the opportunity to offer further input 

into this final decision making stage prior to the awarding of essential air service (EAS) to the 

northern New York communities of Massena, Ogdensburg and Watertown. Three proposals were 

filed under this order and we have been diligently reviewing each in this shorten second round of 

processing those applications. 

After careful examination of each proposal, with special attention paid to the particular financial 

circumstances surrounding Gulfstream International, the opportunity to become much more 

acquainted with Charter Air Transport and direct conversation with the airhne that has been 

responsibly providing service to Watertown for the past two years in Cape Air, we have concluded 

that at this time there remains only one airline that most closely matches our progressive business 

plan for the Watertown International Airport. Therefore, even with the understanding of similar 

recommendations already on file from each of the other two communities for another air carrier, it 

remains Jefferson County's desire to see Gulfstream International Airlines designated as the 

commercial air earner of choice for our community. 

On both August 20* of this year and March 8, 2008, we went into great detail as to the rationale 

behind our recommendation for Gulfstream. The same holds true today. The risk to be taken with 

Gulfstream, based on the representations by some of its key officers, seems to be a reasonable one. 
With Charter Air Transport, we hope to continue some important dialogue outside of the realm of 

EAS assistance for specialized service to which the airline is cun'ently most accustomed. Cape Air 

continues even in this interim stage to provide a very creditable service, but it simply is not in any 

position to supply a larger plane for higher enplanement mass so critical to mucli of our local 

clientele that is most important to future gi^owth of the airport and vital economic development 

within the region. Should Cape Air be awarded a new two year contract, we will continue to work 

closely with that airline. Please understand, however, that the County will not be detened fi-om 

continuing to explore additional alternatives for commercial flights out of the Watertown 

International Aiiport. For the foreseeable future, EAS assistance remains critical towards building 

our success in the commercial air transportation business and Jefferson County is most 

appreciative of that vital assistance. 

In summary, we feel that Gulfstream hitemational Airlines can provide Watertown International 

Aiq^ort customers with the best opportunity at this time to expand our air transportation service to 

the region. Should you have any questions or comments regarding our recommendation, I would be 

happy to respond. Thank you for your continued support of our airport related initiatives and, in so 

doing, our community. 

Sincerely, , / 

Robert F. Hagemann, lU 

County Administrator 

Airport Advisory Connnittee 

Airport Manager