THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON DC 20590 

The Honorable Roger F. Wicker 

United States Senate 

Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Senator Wicker: 

July 17, 2012 

Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the Gulfport-Biloxi International 

Airport for a grant under the U.S. Department ofTransportation's Small Community Air Service 

Development Program. 

The Small Community Air Service Development Program was established to help smaller 

communities address air service deficiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares or 

insufficient service. Under the statute, the Depart.ment may make a maximum of 40 grant 

awards each year, although no more than 4 awards 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 flexibility in the types of projects that can be funded. 

On May 15, the Department issued an order requesting that communities interested in receiving a 

grant this year file their applications by June 11. As these grant requests are pending before the 

Department, I cannot comment on the merits of any particular proposaL I assure you that the 

Department will give full and fair consideration to all proposals that have been properly filed. 

As is our normal practice; I am placing a of your letter and this respon 

DOT-OST-2012-0069 as a contact t e t e record of this matter. I ap te your interest in 

this program. 

. i 
. ROGER F. WICKER 

MISSISSIPPI 

ARMED SERVICES 

BANKING. I·IOUSING, AND URBAN AFFAIRS 

COMMERCE. SCIENCE AND TRANSPORTATION 

VETERANS' AFFAIRS 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

WASHINGTON, DC 20510 

June 5, 2012 

Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation 

400 Seventh Street, SW 

Washington, D.C. 20590-0001 

Dear Ray, 

SUITE 555 

DIRKSEN SENATE OFfiCE BUILDING 

WASHINGTON, DC 20510 

i202l 224-&2~3 

\\IVNI.WiC~Qf.S(f(t.Oie.f)OV 

I would like to express my support for Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (GPT)'s 

application for a Small Community Air Service Development Program Grant. Funding from the 

U.S. Department of Transportation in the amount of $950,000 will help to restore vital air service 

between Gulfport and key Florida locations. Leisure and business customers from these markets 

are crucial to the recovery and sustainability of the Mississippi Gulf Coast economy. 

· My·state has been deeply impacted in past years by Hun·icane Katrina and the Gulf of 

Mexico oil spill as well as the nationwide financial downtum. The loss of OPT's only low-cost 

air carrier in 2011 and decreasing airline competition also have contributed to a loss of revenue 

for the region's tourism industry. The Small Community Air Service Development Program is 

critical to providing a link between Mississippi and the targeted Florida market. · 

I hope that you will give Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport's application every 

consideration. Should additional information be requir~d from my office, please contact Bevin 

Wilkinson· ofniy staff at (228) 604-2383. · 

With best wishes, I am 

RFW/BW 

501 EAST CounT Srncer, SUITe 3,500 

J~r.KSl1N, MS 39201 

1601) 965-4U44 

. 

• 

.,t. . . . ~ 

452 Counwouse AoAO, Sum: F 

GuLfPORT, MS 39507 

(2201, 604-2383 

'··· 

3110 PASCAOOULA Srneu. SuoT£ 179 

PAOCAOOULA, MS 39561 

1228) 762-5400