21ST SENATORIAL DISTRICT 

SCOTT E. HUTCHINSON 

HARRISBURG OFFICE 

SENATE BOX 203021 

HARRISBURG, PA 17t20·3021 

(717) 787-9684 

FAX (717) 787•6088 

TTY (800) 364-1581 

shutchlnson@posen.gov 

senotorscotthutchlnson.com 

The Honorable Anthony Foxx 

Secretary of Transportation 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey A venue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

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July 18,2014 

COMMITTEES 

COMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY 

CHAIR 

FINANCE 

VICE CHAIR 

ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES & ENERGY 

LOCAL GOVERNMENT 

PUBLIC HEALTH & WELFARE 

VETERANS AFFAIRS & EMERGENCY 

PREPAREDNESS 

MAJORITY POLICY COMMITTEE 

JOINT LEGISLATIVE AIR & WATER 

POLLUTION CONTROL & CONSERVATION 

COMMITTEE 

PA HARDWOODS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 

Re: Support for Petition of Franklin/Oil City 10 enplanement statute waiver, Docket No. 1997-2523 

Dear Secretary Foxx: 

The communities of Franklin/Oil City and the Venango County Regional Airport were served, on 

June 24, with the Department of Transportation Order 2014-6-6; Terminating EAS Eligibility and 

Establishing Waiver Procedures for possible continuation or reinstatement of commercial air service to 

the region. 

I write today in support of a waiver request submitted by the Airport Manager on behalf of 

Franklin/Oil City so that these communities and the Oil Heritage Region, served by the Venango 

Regional Airport, may have reliable commercial air servicethat is so vital to the area's economy. 

The decline in the numbers of commercial passengers using the local air service began a freefall 

in 2005, when the flights were reduced to 12 weekly. Prior to that; we saw significant growth during the 

fourth quarter of2004 and were on track to board 4,000 passengers as 2005 began with a strong showing 

through three quarters until the flight levels were reduced eliminating viable connections. During this 

period, the carrier, Mesa, Dba US Airways Express had significant struggles due to its financially 

strapped codeshare partner, the downsizing and ultimate elimination of that partner's hub airport and 

spiking oil prices that dramatically impacted operating costs. Service was unreliable and many potential 

passengers made the long drives to Pittsburgh or Cleveland rather than risk missed connections. The 

airline, burdened by the then extraordinary fuel costs and pressures in the hub airport, 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 carrier while the incumbent was 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 incumbent airline grappled with few viable connections remaining and 

many flight cancellations due to maintenance and crew issues. The Airline actually werit out of business 

in May of2008 with two (2) weeks notice. The community was without air 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. Only two (2) of their 

B 1900D aircraft had anti skid brakes, a condition that hampered the ahility to operate on Franklin's 5200 

ft runway during winter conditions. Beginning in December of 2008; the airline averaged 22.8 % 

cancellations during the winter months of December, January and February. Hundreds of passengers were 

affected by the delays and cancellations during those months. 

BUTLER OFFICE 

110 EAST DIAMOND STR£ET, BUTLER, PA 16001 

724-282- I 234 

FAX 724-282-6852 

OIL CITY OFFICE 

302 SENECA STREET, OIL CITY, PA 16301 

8 I 4-677-6345 

FAX 814-677-633 I 

TOLL FREE 877-659-4483 

WARREN OFFICE 

22045 ROUTE 6, WARREN, PA 16365 

814-728-2100 

FAX 814-728-2102 
The cascading effects rendered airport marketing and promotional expenditures virtually useless 

as the unreliability stories spread. The results were evident as potential passengers avoided the uncertainty 

of flying from Franklin and enplanements declined further. Rebuilding the customer base became the 

sole responsibility of the local Airport as the airline did not participate in or cooperate with marketing and 

promotional efforts. Indeed; the airline upper management would not allow a locally published phone 

number and, therefore, the Airport became the default local contact for the airline. Additionally, 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 of customer goodwill for the 

future. We considered the expenditures averaging $7,000 anm.ially to be an investment in the future, 

looking forward to the anticipated restoration of service to Pittsburgh. 

The negative press and headlines during the past few years about the possible loss of funding for 

the EAS program and, most recently the airline's notice to depart the market altogether has further 

exacerbated the problems faced by the Airport and the Community trying to attract customers back to the 

local air service. 

Seeking improvements, the Airport Manager at Venango Regional Airport has represented this 

region on the Pennsylvania Air Service Committee (PASC) since its inception in 2007 and has worked 

with airport colleagues, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation- Bureau of Aviation, (PennDOT) 

and representatives of the Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) to restore service to PIT which is the 

preferred and natural connector for air passengers from this region. The PASC, PIT and PennDOT 

contracted the services of a consulting firm in 2011 to conduct a multi-year study to determine the 

viability of restoring intrastate service to PIT from both EAS and Non EAS communities. There is an 

opportunity now to regain service to PIT with an air carrier committed to this community operating a 

business model that has proven successful in many small communities; relatively high frequency, 9 

passenger aircraft, reasonable fares and viable connectivity to major airlines as we11 as low cost carriers, 

(LCCs). This is a different business model from what we've had and we are aware of the positive results 

experienced in many small markets. 

I am ~ncouraged that the (3) airlines that bid on Franklin/Oil City service to PIT all presented 

essentially that same business model as the most viable solution to improve passenger traffic and allow 

the community to satisfY EAS minimum requirements of not only the 10 enplanements per day but also to 

attain and maintain the $200 subsidy per passenger rule. Our citizens look forward to reconnecting with 

Pittsburgh with the service to be provided by Sun Air International and look to the US DOT to allow 

Franklin/Oil City to start service to PIT under a waiver in order to provide reliable, timely air service to 

the region through the restoration of the connection to PIT. 

Sincerely, 

Scott E. Hutchinson 

State Senator, 21st District 

SEH/jnl