### U.S. Department ofTransportation Office ofthe Secretary ofTransportation 

# SEP 11 2014

Ms. Mimi Johnstone Office Manager DienamicTooling Systems, Inc. 303 Sam Rayburn Parkway Lenoir City, TN 37771 Dear Ms. Johnstone: '

...**~** Assistant Secretary 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590



### Thankyou for yourletter, addressed to Secretary Foxx, supporting the proposal submitted by the Metropolitan Knoxville AirportAuthority for a grantunder the U.S. Department of Transportation's Small Community Air Service DevelopmentProgram. SecretaryFoxx asked that Irespond to you onhis behalf. The Small Community Air Service Development Program was established to help smaller communities address air service deficiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares and insufficient service. Under the statute, the Department may make a maximum of40 grant awards eachyear, although no more thanfour may be to communities in the san1e State. To provide conununities with latitude indeveloping solutions to their air service deficiencies, the statute provides flexibility inthe types ofair service development projects that canbe funded. OnJune 30,the Department issued an order setting a deadline ofJuly 31 for applications. As these grantrequests are pending beforethe Department, I cannot comment on the merits ofany particularproposal. 1assure you, however, that the Department will give full and fair considerationto all proposals that have beenproperly filed. As is our standardpractice, I amplacing a copy ofyour letter and this response inDocket DOT-OST-2014-0113 as a contact outside the record ofthismatter. I appreciate your interest in this program. Sincerely yours,

Susan L. Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs

## Dienamic Tooling Systems, 

## Inc. 303 Sam Rayburn Parkway

08tl4/2014 Mimi Johnstone Dienamic Tooling Systems, Inc. 303 Sam Rayburn Parkway Lenoir City, TN The Honorable Anthony Fox Secretary Unites States DepartmentofTransportation 1200 NewJerseyAvenue SE Washington, DC 20590 RE Docket DOT-OST-2014-0113 Dear Secretarj Fox, Lenoir City, TN 37771 Phone: (865) 717-1540

Fax: (865) 717-1555

I have been made aware ofthe application submitted by the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority and the competitive Airfare Partnership underthe 2014 Small Community Air Service Development Grant Program. I am writing today to encourage the Department ofTransportation to approve this application. We are small company. The nature ofour business, production ofAutomotive stamping dies requires us to frec;uently llave toolmakers and project managers physically visit our customer's plams for repairs, troubleshooting, die buyoffs, etc. Even with today's electronic technology to communicate remotely vve need to travel, usually at the last minute with very little notice. As an example we travel frequently to Michigan. With less than aweeks' notice to make reservations, ouraverage airfares are approximately $1000.00. Because we have**v~r;** few travel choices in Knoxville we are forced to pay these fares to provide ourservices. Air travel is a huge hit to our budget but one we have had no choice butto absorb. Willingly taking the hit does not help promote competitive pricing. It's obvious ifbusinesses continue to pay these. fares willingly then why would it change. Knoxville's grant application seeks to address the issue by increasing airline competition at McGhee Tyson Airport. The grant would enable Knoxville to recruit and provide start up supportfor low-fare airline service at TYS. The impact of this would be dramatic notjustfor local corporate business but for leisure travelers wishing to vacation here.. It shouldn't be so cost prohibitive to visit Knoxville and our beautiful East TN area. Iam hoping the US DOTwill see the importance of helping our region reduce the cost ofairfare for all travelers, business and visitors alike by approving Knoxville's Small Community Air SerJice Development Grant Application.

Mimi Johnstone Office Manager Cc: J. H Evans