o 

US. Department of 

Ttansportotlon 

Office of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

Assistant Secreijry 1200 New Jersey Ave S E 

Wjshmgron, DC 20590 

OCT 2 2 2010 

Mr. Steven B. Dewald 

Chief Financial Officer 

RDO Equipment Co. 

P.O. Box 7160 

700 South 7* Street 

Fargo, ND 58106-7160 

- •t 

i'...> 

Dear Mr. Dewald: 

Thank you for your letter of September 3 supporting the proposal submitted by Fargo 

Hector International Airport for a grant under the Small Community Air Service 

Development Program (Small Community Program). I am pleased to respond to your 

letter on behalf of Secretary LaHood. 

The Small Community Program was established to help smaller communities address air 

service deficiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares and insufficient service. A 

total of $7 million will be available for grant awards in Fiscal Year 2010. Under the 

statute, the Department may use the funds to make a maximum of 40 grant awards each 

year, although no more than four may be to communities in the same State. In order to 

provide communities with latitude in developing solutions to their air service 

deficiencies, the statute provides significant flexibility in how the financial assistance 

may be used. 

On July 30, the Department issued an order requesting that communities interested in 

receiving a grant this year file their applications by August 27. As these grant requests 

are pending before the Department, I am sure you understand that I cannot comment on 

the merits of any particular proposal. I assure you, however, that the Department will 

give full consideration to all proposals that have been properly filed. 
As is our normal practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and this response in Docket 

DOT-OST-2010-0124 as a contact outside the record of this matter. I appreciate your 

interest in this program. If I can provide further information or assistance, please feel 

free to call me. 

f/j^usan L. Kurland 

^Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
SI0-10091 3-021 

EQUJPA^ENT CO. 

September 3,2010 

R£: Small Commanity Air Service Development Grant 

Honorable Raymond H. LaHood 

Sectetaiy of Transportation 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Dear: Mr. LaHood: 

RDO Equipment Co. would like to express our support of the Small Community Air Service Development 

Program Grant which will allow American Airlines/American Eagle the opportunity to implement non-stop 

service between Fargo*s Hector International Airport (FAR) and DallasyTort Worth (DEW). 

Our company which is head quartered in Fargo, ND has domestic operations in nine states with a significant 

operation throughout central Texas. A direct connection to DFW would eliminate a connection that is 

required today saving both time and m<mey. 

American Eagle service to DFW would connect with at least 97 markets served by American and American 

Eagle &om DFW. As our business operates on a national and international scale, this added connection via 

Dallas/Fort Worth will allow us to operate more efUdently in a competitive global environment. 

Our company has a global reach in terms of company locations, customers and suppliers, and an added 

connection would allow us to do business more effectively. DFW service would provide single connections 

to many markets in the Southwest, Mexico, and other destinations in Latin America. Many of the markets 

American Eagle could serve via DFW are a double coimection today. A Dallas cormection would be a 

much utilized service. 

Frontier recently discontinued its service into the Fargo market leaving the community with only two legacy 

carrier competitors for westbound traffic. United and Delta. A third competitor could help suppress upward 

&re pressure. The enhanced flight schedule would allow us to more effectively execute our business 

strategy through quicker more efficient coimections not only to other segments of our company but to our 

customers as well. Better coimectivity, including better schedules and routes, lends to a leaner and more 

effective business model translating into a healthier bottom Ime. 

Service to Dallas/FcHth Worth will be a valuable contribution to local air service, and we fully support the 

addition of American Eagle non-stop service between Dallas/Fort Worth and Fargo. 

Sincerely, 

Stevcav. ETewald 

Chief Financial Officer 

c.c. Gary Foss, AMR Regional Netwoik 

P.O. 80x7160 • 700 South 7th Street • Fargo. ND 58106-7160 

701 ••239-8730 ph • 7C1-239-8752 lax 

www. rdo 6quipm9nt.com