# SUPERIO RAVIATIO N ^•i-ARTMEHTG F ^'::^P0RTAT10 N : - 1 GFER/VIiON S AU G'^ 0 P U: 0 3

Jul y23 , 201 1 Aloh a Le y Associat e Directo r Smal l Communit

yAi rService Developmen t Progra m Unite d State s Departmen t of Transportatio n Offic e o f Aviatio n Analysi s 1200 Ne wJerseyAvenu e S E Washington
. DC 2059 0 Dea rMs
. Ley : Superio rAviation , LTD , base d i n Kingsford/lro n Mountain , Michigan , supports th e Smal l Communit yAi r Service Developmen t gran t proposa l o f Sawye rInternationa l Airpor t fo rservic e betwee n Marquett e an d Lansing
. Ou rcompan yma

yb e intereste d i n operatin g th e servic e Sawye rIntemationa l Airpor t i s proposing , an d a Smal l Communit

yAi rService Developmen t grant , i n th e for m o f a revenu e guarantee , woul d reduce th e ris k t o th e company . Ou rcompan yactuall yoperate d servic e fro m Iro n Mountai n an d Escanab a t o Lansin g betwee n 1992 an d 2004 , bu t discontinue d th e servic e becaus e Midwest Airline s fle wIro n Mountai n an d Milwaukee , t o Lansing
. Since servic e t o Lansin g wa s discontinued , market condition s hav e changed , an d w e are evaluatin g reinstatin g simila rservic e t o includ e Marquette
. Adecisio n b

ySuperio rAviatio n t o operat e th e servic e cannot b e confinne d at thi s time ; however , an y gran t amoun t awarde d fo rth e propose d servic e wil l b e include d i n ou ranalysi s an d considere d a s w e evaluat e th e financia l viabilityo f th e propose d service
.

Bruce J
. Vard a Directo rof Operation s Superio rAviation , LT D 25 0 Riverhill s Rd
. Kingsford , Michigan , USA , 4980 2 Offic e 906-774-040 0 Cell 906-396-888 8

25 0 Riverhill s Roa d• Kingsford , Michiga

n 49802 Phone : 906.774.040 0 • Phone : 800.321.127 1 • www.superioraviation.com 

# GARMIN
. t ^ MID-CONTINEN T INSTRUMENT S

# MICHIGA N STAT E UNIVERSIT Y

Offic e o f th e VIC E PRESIDEN T FO R GOVERNMENTA L

AFFAIR S Michiga n Stat e Universit y 48 4 Administratio n Buildin g Eas t Lansing , M i 48824-104 6

517-353-900 0 Fax : 517-353-919 0 www.vpga.msu.ed u Jul y28 , 201 1

Attn : Ms
. Brook e J
. Chapman , Transportatio n Industr yAnalys t Smal l Communit yAi rServic e Developmen t Progra m Offic e o f Aviatio n Analysi s U.S
. Departmen t o f Transportatio n 120 0 Ne wJerse yAv e S E Washingto n DC 2059 0 brooke.chapman@dot.go v Dea rMs
. Chapman : I a m writin g t o suppor t th e applicatio n o f Sawye rInternationa l Airpor t fo r fundin g fro m th e U.S
. Departmen t o f Transportatio n t o hel p provid e direc t ai r servic e betwee n Marquett e County' s Sawye rInternationa l Airpor t an d Lansing' s Capita l Regio n Internationa l Airport
. Th e reques t i s fo rgran t fundin g fro m th e Smal l Communit yAi rServic e Developmen t Gran t Program
. Michiga n Stat e Uiiiversit yi s locate d i n Eas t Lansing , Michigan , an d ha s numerou s service , outreac h an d researc h facilitie s locate d i n Michigan' s Uppe rPeninsula
. MS U Extensio n ha s office s i n mos t countie s i n Michiga n an d ha s a substantia l presenc e i n th e Uppe rPeninsula , connectin g individual s an d communitie s t o research-base d solutions
. Ou reducator s an d researcher s woul d greatl ybenefi t fro m th e greate rconnectivit yresultin g fro m direc t ai rservice
. I n addition , MSU' s Colleg e o f Huma n Medicin e ha s a ver yactiv e presenc e i n th e Uppe rPeninsula , a s i t serve s a s on e o f ou rseve n community-base d trainin g progra m sites
. MSU , i n conjunctio n wit h Marquett e Genera l Healt h Syste m an d Superio rHealt h Partners , offer s a Rura l Physicia n Progra m i n th e Uppe r Peninsul a wit h a focu s o n trainin g high-qualit ycommitte d physician s t o serv e i n rura l primar ycare . Again , greate rconnectivit ywit h th e Eas t Lansin g campu s woul d greatl ybenefi t students , facult yan d th e patient s the yserve . O n behal f o f MSU , I hop e yo u wil l giv e thi s applicatio n stron g consideration
.

Vice-Presiden t

MS U i s a n dtfirmalive-dCTior^ , equal-opportunit yemployei
.

## MICHIGA N

ASSOCIATIO N O FCOUNTIE S 93 5 Nort hWashingto

n Avenu e Lansing , Michiga

n 4890 6 517372.5374 Fa

x 517482.459 9 www.micounties.or

g Timothy K
. McGuire , Executiv e Directo r Jul y 22 , 201 1 U.S
. DEPARTMEN T O FTRANSPORTATIO N Smal l Community Ai r

Servic e Developmen t

Progra m Offic e o f Aviatio n Analysi s Attn : Ms
. Brook e Chapman , Transportatio n Industry Analys t 120 0 Ne w Jerse y Ave , S E Washington , D C 2059 0 Dea r Ms
. Chapman : Th e Michigan Associatio n o f Countie s woul dlike t o submi t thi s lette r

i n support

o f th e Count

y o f Marquett e an dSawye r

Intemationa l Airport' s reques t for gran t fiindin g fromth e U.S
. Departmen t o f Transportatio n SCAS D programt o provid e future servic e betwee n Michigan' s Uppe r Peninsul aRegio n an dLansing' s Capita l Regio n Airport
. Th e Michigan Associatio n o f Countie s i s comprise do f electe dcounty official s acros s th e stat e o f Michigan
. A s such , w e kno w jus t ho w instrumenta l thi s ai r servic e i s betwee n th e Upper Peninsul a region , an dLowe r

Michiga n withacces s t o ou r stat e capitol
. Resident s throughou t

Michigan' s Uppe r

Peninsul acurrentl y hav e t o mak e aroughl y 1 4 hou r round-tri p driv e t o Lansin g whe n travelin g fromMarquette , but th e tri p can tak e an additiona l si x hour s whe n comin g fromth e northwes t an dwestern Uppe r

Peninsula
. Tak e int o accoun t

advers e weathe r

condition s ove r

th e cours e o f

th e lon g winte r

season , an dpossibl e delay s whe n th e Mackina c Bridg e i s closed , th e ability t o hav e schedule dai r servic e woul db e incredibl y beneficial fo

r county commissioners
. Currently , Metr o Detroi t i n southeas t

Michiga n i s th e onl y regio n in Michiga n wit hdirec t servic e t o Lansing ; therefor e thi s servic e i s sorel y neede dfor electe dofficial s in th e Uppe r Peninsul awishin g t o b e more connecte dt o legislativ e busines s i n Lansin g i

n orde r t o bette r serv e thei r

constituents
. Furthermore , th e economi c developmen t opportunitie s create db y th e additio n o f ane w intra-stat e airlin e woul dmean mor e job s bot hin Michigan' s Uppe r

an dLowe r

Peninsula s whic hwoul dbenefi t Michigan' s economy tha t

ha s bee n depresse dfor

man y years . I n closing , MA C enthusiasticall y support s Marquett e County' s applicatio n t o th e USDO T t o receiv e SCAS D fundin g t o improv e Michigan' s intra-stat e ai r service
. Sincerely , 

# /?
. Timoth y K
. McGuir e Executiv e Directo r

-•••^'^ -RIC KSNYDE R GOVERNO R STATE O FMICHIGAN 

### DEPARTMEN T O F TRANSPORTATIO N LANSIN G KIRKT
. STEUDL E DIRECTO R 

### Jul y 26 , 201 1

TH E U.S
. DEPARTMEN T O FTRANSPORTATIO N Offic e o f Aviatio n Analysi s Attn : Ms
. Brook e Chapman , Transportatio n Industry Analys t 120 0 Ne w Jerse y Ave , S E Washington , D C 2059 0 Dea r Ms
. Chapman : O n behal f

o f th e Michiga n Departmen t o f Transportation , Offic e o f Aeronautics , I wis ht o expres s m y stron g support for th e proposa l o f

Marquett e County , Michiga n unde r th e USDOT' s Smal l Commimity Ai r

Servic e Developmen t

Program
. A s th e larges t

populatio n cente r

i n th e Uppe r

Peninsul ao f

Michigan , th e Greate r

Marquett e Are a ha s asubstantia l nee dfor acces s t o th e governmenta l an deconomi c developmen t resource s i n Lansin g - Michigan' s capita l city
. Unfortunately , wit hth e exceptio n o f dail y flights t o Detroit , nonsto p servic e i s currentl y unavailabl e t o th e Lowe r Peninsul ao f

Michigan
. Thi s situatio n hamper s th e region' s ability t o conduc t same-day busines s betwee n th e tw o communitie s a s hu b ban k time s an dconnection s limi t schedul e flexibility. I n addition , bothcommunitie s hos t universitie s whos e students , faculty , an dthei r familie s woul dbenefi t

fro mth e trave l option s provide db y nonsto p service
. A s stat e governmen t

evolves a s acrucia l economi c developmen t partner , efficient

trave l betwee n Lansin g an dMarquett e become s eve n mor e essential
. Th e resultin g public-privat e partnership s allo w Michiga n t o compet e effectivel y i n th e globa l marketplace
. Than k yo u for your consideratio n o f

thi s proposa l an dpleas e contac t m e i f yo u hav e an y questions
. I can b e reache dat 517-335-9568
. Sincerely ,

Michae l Trou t Executiv e Administrato r Offic e o f Aeronautic s

LH-LAN- O (01/11 ) MURRA Y D
. VA N WAGONE R BUILDIN G • P.O
. BO X 3005 0 • LANSING , MICHIGA N 4890 9 www.michigan.go v• (517 ) 373-209 0

# T TH

E MININ G t 

# Journa l

Th e Uppe rPeninsula' s Larges t Dail yNewspape r
Jul y 22,201 1
U.S
. Departmen t

o f Transportatio n Smal l Community Ai r

Servic e Developmen t

Progra m Offic e o f Aviatio n Analysi s Attn : Mr
. Brook e Chapman , Transportatio n Industr y Analys t 120 0 Ne w Jeree y Ave , S E Washington , D C 2059 0 Dear M s Ch^jman : Pleas e accep t

thi s lette r o f suppor t t o supplemen t

th e applicatio n fro mMaiquett e Count y an dSawye r

Intemationa l Airpor t

fo r gran t fundin g fro mth e USDOT' s Smal l Communit y Ai r Servic e Developmen t

Progra m(SCASD)
. Th e Minin g Journa l i s th e larges t dail y newspape r

i n th e Uppe r

Peninsul ao f

Michigan
. W e wer e very involve dthroug heditoria l support a s wel l a s persona l representation i n movm g ou r

ol dairport

t o th e Sawye r

locatio n becaus e w e kne w i t was th e bes t

locatio n i n th e Uppe r Peninsul at o b e th e hom e o f aregiona l airport
. W e kne w w e mad e th e righ t decisio n whe n Presiden t

Bus han dPresiden t

Obam awer e abl e t o lan da t Sawye r Intemationa l Airpor t

o n Ai r Forc e On e durin g avisi t

t o Marquette
. W e kne w whe n w e inove dth e airpor t

ho w importan t

ai r transportatio n wa s t o th e future growthan dsucces s of ou r area . Durin g you r

revie w o f

th e airport' s application , I a mconfiden t tha t yo u an dyou r

tea m wil l recogniz e th e benefit s fro mth e awardin g of fund s t o secur e future schedule dservic e betwee n th e Uppe r

Peninsul aan dMichigan' s capita l city o f Lansing
. Considerin g that Marquett e Count y i s th e hom e o f Norther n Michiga n University ther e i s agrea t nee dfo r convemen t

transportatio n fo r

th e stat e employee s t o atten dmandatory meeting s i n Lansing
. Marquett e County i s als o th e hom e of Marquett e Genera l Hospital , whic hi s a regiona l medica l center , an dthe y als o hav e frequen t meeting s i n Lansing
. Als o considenn g tha t

w e a « th e larges t

city i n th e Uppe r

Peninsul aof

Michiga n w e ar e th e hom e fo r man y distric t

office s o f

stat e businesse s tha t

ar e headquartere di n Lansing
. Whil e th e quality o f

lif e i n th e Uppe r

Peninsul ai s unsurpassed , w e ar e geographicall y challenge da s Maiquett e i s approximatel y 40 0 mile s o r a14-hou r

roundtrip driv e t o ou r Capita l city o f

Lansing , an dfo r

thos e resident s i n th e northwes t an dwestern region s of

24 9 Wes t Washingto n St. , P.O
. Bo x430 , Marquette , Michiga n 4985 5 'Phon e (906 ) 228-250 0 -Tol l Fre e M l 1-800-562-781 1 Advertisin g FA

X (906 ) 228-327 3 'Editoria l FA X (906 ) 228-261 7

### th e U.P
. si x hour s can b e added
. W e believ e that Detroi t shoul dnot

b e th e onl y city i n Michiga n withdirec t

ai r servic e t o Lansing
. Weathe r i s adominan t

facto r o f lif e i n th e Uppe r

Peninsula
. Durin g th e lon g winte r seasons , an ddu e t o period s o f advers e weather , th e Mackina c Bridg e i s ou r onl y direc t lin k t o Lowe r Michiga n an dma y b e close dfo r extende dperiod s du e t o hig hwinds , blac k ic e an dlimite dvisibility
. Therefore , schedule dai r servic e t o Lansin g woul dallo w ou r Grea t Uppe r peninsul acommunity t o avoi dsuc hweathe r condition s an dfl y directl y t o Lansin g i n approximatel y 75-minutes , Furthermore , th e job s create dwithth e additio n o f ane w intra-stat e airlin e t o serv e Michiga n especiall y durin g adifficul t economy , continue s t o ad dt o economi c developmen t

benefit s tha t

i s create dwithdependabl e commercia l ai r servic e t o serv e Michigan' s Uppe r

an dLowe r

Peninsulas
. I n closing , o n behal f

of mysel f an dth e staf

f a t th e Marquett e Minin g Journal , w e enthusiasticall y support

th e applicatio n t o th e USDO T t o receiv e SCAS D fundin g t o enhanc e Michigan' s intra-stat e ai r servic e fo r

servic e betwee n Marquett e an dLansing
. Sincerel y 

# J V ^fcA/3 J Jame s A
. Reev s Publisher/Genera l Manage r Th e Minin g Journa l