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October 22, 2014
Anthony Foxx Secretary ofTransportation US DepartmentofTransportation 1200 NewJersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 .!.!2 Airport .Oril/1,: \•lww.bradftH·dairpnrt,net -;-



### Subject: Essential Air Service at Bradford and Franklin, Pennsylvania Bradford, Pennsylvania (DOT-OST-2003-14528) Franklin/Oil City, Pennsylvania (DOT-OST-1997-2523)

Dear Secretary Foxx: lt:wis Run. P·\**HlT-H~** Sl-!-168<59-:!fi tX !0

First, we wantto thank you and the US Department ofTransportation (DOT) for the recent order granting ourwaiverfrom the 10-enplanement rule, and allowing both Franklin's Venango County Regional Airport (FKL) and Bradford Regional Airport (BFD) to continue in the Essential AirService (EAS) program. Our EAS contract was bundled with numerous other EAS communities in the region. On July 18, 2014, the US DOT made its final selections for the majority ofthe communities, while deferring action on behalfof BFD and FKL until a decision was made on the 10-enplanement rule. On September 26, 2014, the US DOT officially granted that waiverto BFD and FKL

We are now approaching fourweeks sincethe granting ofthe waiver. andwe are still waiting for a final orderfrom the US DOT selecting a carrierto serve BFD and FKL. Both communities strongly supported Sun Air's bid to provide service, and have already begun working with the carrierto commence operations as soon as possible. Without a final order selecting Sun Air, however, the airline and community are unable to make final preparations for service or announce a start date. After recent discussions with the airline, we are expecting newservice to start in December 2014 orJanuary 2015, assuming a final order is issued quickly.
Typically, EAS rules dictate that the current air carrier is to be held indefinitely until a replacement carrier is selected and begins service. For BFD and FKL, this appears to not be the case, and we are expecting a hiatus in service. SilverAirways has communicated with both communities that they will cease operations regardless ofany hold-in orders, on October 31, 2014.
Although the community relies upon our EAS to connect our rural communities to the rest ofthe world, the larger impactofa hiatus in air service is likely to be our ability to stay in the EAS program in the future. The 10-enplanement requirement and the $200 per passengersubsidy cap will again be evaluated for each community forthe 12-months ending September 30, 2015, and we are concerned aboutthe impact ofa hiatus ofservice. For each month thatthe communities gowithout service, it not only will require a higher average number ofpassengers in the other months to counteractthe lack ofservice, but it forces our communities to spend even more time, money and effortto "win back" customers forced to drive to alternate airports during the time ofpoor service or no service atall. It is highly improbable that a pending hiatus in service will have no impact on passengers even after Sun Aircommences service.

In light ofthe above, BFD and FKL hereby respectfully request the US DOT: 1. Expedite the decision on selecting Sun Air for the EAS contractfor both BFD and FKL, so both the communities and Sun Air can, as expeditiously as possible, continue efforts to commence service to Pittsburgh International Airport.

### 2. Advise what action will be taken against SilverAirways ifthey follow through with plans to suspend service on October 31, 2014 as they have communicated in directviolation ofthe US DOT order2014-10-13 which holds the carrier in until November 14, 2014, and any subsequent hold-in orders thatthe US DOT issues until such time as a replacement carrier is selected and commences service. 3. Take into account any potential service hiatus that may occur before a replacement carrier can start service, when evaluating BFD and FKL in regards to the 10-enplanement rule or$200 per passenger subsidy cap requirements forthe year ending September 30, 2015.

On behalfofourcommunities, we thank you and the US DOT in our efforts to continue EAS at BFD and FKL. We look forward to working togetherto have ourservice be successful.
Sincerely,

OCBell Alicia Dankesreiter Airport Manager- FKL Interim Airport Mana9er- BFD

cc: Kevin Schlemmer, US DOT