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XXS. Departmen t o f 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Transportatio n Washington, DC 20590 

Office of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

FEB 21 ?m 

The Honorable Carl Levin 

United States Senator 

c/o Ms. Amy Berglund 

524 Ludington Street 

Suite LL-103 

Escanaba, Michigan 49829-3949 

Dear Senator Levin: 

Thank you for your January 26 letter forwarding correspondence from Mr. Duane 

DuRay, Airport Manager of the Gogebic-Iron County Airport in hronwood. He expressed 

concerns about the Essential Air Service (EAS) situation at Ironwood, particularly the 

flight schedule proposed by Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. (Great Lakes). 

As you may know, on October 20, 2011, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued 

Order 20II-10-15, requesting proposals from carriers interested in providing EAS at 

Ironwood and/or Rhinelander, Wisconsin, for a two-year period, with or without subsidy. 

In response to Order 2011-10-15, Great Lakes was the only carrier to submit a proposal. 

While Great Lakes' proposal meets the core objective of the program, we understand the 

community's concerns regarding scheduling and reliability issues and will work with 

them and Great Lakes to optimize the service. 

I have asked our Office of Governmental Affairs to keep your office apprised of any 

significant developments as we process this case. As is our normal practice in such 

matters, I am placing a copy of your letter and my response in DOT-OST-1996-1266, the 

official records of this case. Should you have any additional questions regarding the EAS 

program, please do not hesitate to contact me at (202) 366-1061. 

Sincerely yours. 

Dennis J. DeVany 

Chief, Essential Air Service Division, X-53 

Office of Aviation Analysis 
01/27/2012 10:56 FAX 906 789 0015 SENATOR CARL LEVIN IglOOl 

Fax from the office of. 

Senator Carl Levin 

Escanaba Office 

524 Ludington Street, Suite LL-103 

Escanaba, Michigan 49829 

(906) 789-0052 

(906) 789-0015 (fax) 

Please deliver to: [Kr \kWM\ DfM^ U Date: Ijoil/1 'd\ 

Fax number: ^O^-obC^ " 1 ^ ^ ^ Time: 

From: ^ ^^^ Levin 

D Amy Berglund 

V^lizabeth Reed 

D Other 

Total number of pages including this page % 

If you do not receive all the pages, call (906) 789-0052 

Additional Comments: 
01/27/2012 10:56 FAX 906 789 0015 SENATOR CARL LEVIN I2|002 

CARL LEVIN coMMrrrEES: 

MICHteAN ARMED SERVICES 

GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS 

HusEEU SENATE OFHCE BUILDING SMALL BUSINESS 

WASHINGTON, DC20610-2202 rfll;i*»i4.*.J Q1^^4.^ ^ ^^.VMO^^- * INTELUGENCE '-'—^ 1am tra ptatcs Senate 

WASHINGTON, DC 20510-2202 

January 26, 2012 

Mr. Dennis DeVany, Chief 

Essential Air Service Division 

Office of Aviation Analysis 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S .E. 

Washington, DC 20590 

Dear Mr. DeVany: 

I am writing on behalf of Mr. Duane DuRay regarding his concerns with the Essential Air 

Service award to Great Lakes Airlines. 

As you will note from the enclosed correspondence, Mr. DuRay states that they are concerned 

that the proposed Great Lakes Airlines flight schedule is not viable for their community's needs, 

in particular the lack of an early morning flight 

According to Mr. DuRay, the flight schedule for Great Lakes Airlines' operations to the 

Gogebic-Iron County Airport, from June 2009 to April 2011, experienced a 50 percent decrease 

in passenger enplanements and deplanements. Officials contribute the decline to poor scheduling 

and reliability issues. Yet, under Frontier Airlines, with the early morning, midaftemoon and the 

returning evening flights, the airport reports an increase of 300 percent. Enclosed is additional 

documentation for your review. 

I would appreciate it if you take the concerns raised by Mr. DuRay into consideration as you 

move forward in the process. Please inform me of your findings by directing your response to 

my aide, Amy Berglund, in my Escanaba office listed below. 

Sincerely, 

^:u* ^ 

Carl Levin 

CL/er 

Enclosures 

oETBorr 

477 MjCHtOAN AVINUE 

SujTC leeo 

DETBOiT, Ml 48226 

I313I22&.6020 

ESCANABA 

E24 LUOINGTON BTBEET 

SUITS LL-10 3 

ESCANABA, Ml <9M9 

ISOEI 769-0052 

GRAND RAPIDS 

FEDERAL BUILDING 

SuiTi 720 

110 MICHIGAN STUEET, N,W. 

GRAND RAPIQS, Ml 49503 

(B16I 456-2531 

STATE OFFICES 

LANSING 

124 WEST ALUGA N STUEET 

SUITE lai o 

LANSING, Ml 48933 

(5171377-1508 

SAGINAW 

ROOM 402 

615 NotTTH WASHINGTON AVENUE 

SAGINAW, Ml 4B607 

(989) 7H-2494 

TBAVEnSE CITY 

107 CASS STHECT 

SUPFEE 

TBAVEHSECrry, Ml 49604 

(231) 947-9569 

WARREN 

30500 VAN DVKB AVENUE 

SUITE 206 

WAKKEN, M I 46093 

(sael B73-S145 
01/27/201 2 10:5 6 FAX 906 789 0015 SENATOR CARL LEVIN 1^003 

J a n 2 6 12 a3:36 p Managerz-FB D 90G-932-440 1 P- 2 

Gogebic-Iron County Airport 

E5560 Airport Road 

GOGEBIC-IRON AIRPORT BOARD ironwood, Michigan 49938 

Joseph Bonovet, Chairman Phone' 906-932-3121 Duane R. DuRay, Manager 

RobertBerg jimOiiver PAv-'onR Q^io-Adm MindvPrenderville, Admin.Asst. 

LeRoyKangas BrianTarro ^*^^- ^'^o-iiji^l-Vi^i^ 

Bob Morin John Wila e-mail: 

Paul Mullard Donna Scoree i\wdairplana@flyfrom Ironwood .com 

Januar>'25, 2012 

U.S. Senator Carl Levin 

524 Ludington Street Suite LL-103 

Escanaba, Michigan 49829-3949 

Dear Senator Levin, 

The Gogebic-Iron County Airport is requesting any support and assistance to ensure a 

viable flight schedule for our community's needs. 

Included are the documents for yova review which comprise of; 

• Supporting letter for the Great Lakes Airlines Proposal 

• Enplanement/Deplanement numbers dating back to January 2008 

• Great Lakes Schedule dating back to their previous ser\'ioe, June 2008 thru 

April 2011 

• Frontier flight schedule (April 2011 thru current) 

• Great Lakes Airlines proposed flight schedule dated Dec. 2011 

Upon review of the enplanement/deplanement report and tlie flight schedule for Great 

Lakes Airlines operations from June of 2009 through April 2011, you will see the 

passenger enplanements and deplanements decrease by ahnost 50% starting in Jime 

2008 with continued decline through April 2011. This pattern of passenger usage can 

be contributed to poor scheduling and reliability issues. 

The schedule for Frontier Airlines with the early morning, midaftemoon and the 

evening returning flights has proven to be very convenient for our travelers as it is 

reflected with the spike in flight usage of 300% increases. This schedule is possible 

because Frontier ovcmights their aircraft and crew in Ironwood. 

Reviewing the proposed flight schedule presented with the EAS bid from Great Lakes 

Airlines, the first inbound flight will depart Minneapolis (MSP) at 8:30 a.m. and arrive 

into Ironwood (IWD) at 9:30 ajn. This flight will be very unproductive wath it . 

departing MSP very early; passengers connecting to that flight would have to arrive 

into MSP before 8 a.m., most unlikely, this flight would become very unusable. The 

first outbound flight out of IWD would leave at 9:45 a.m. and arrive into MSP at 10:45 

a.m., add about 30 minutes for deplaning and getting into the MSP terminal. The next 
01/27/201 2 10:5 7 FAX 906 789 0015 SENATOR CARL LEVIN 'e|004 

J a n 2 6 1 2 03:37 p Manager/FBO 906-332-4401 P-3 

legal connection would be right around noon, but MSP does not have a good flight 

batiks until 1 p.m. and that leaves our passengers unable to go anywhere until after 

1p.m. The second inbound and outbound flights are set at a satisfactory time with 

connectivity with connecting flights both inbound and outbound respectively. 

The EAS guarantees the community two (2) inbound and two (2) outboimd flights per 

day or a total of twelve (12) roimd flights per week. To make all of the flights 

productive of our community wifli good connectivity, the air carriers have overnighted 

their aircraft in Ironwood. This ensures an early morning flight and late evening flight 

without having to operate at times unproductive for both traveler and aircraft. 

The commimity's largest concern is relating to the ability to use their local airport if the 

flights do not support cormectivity with flight banks at MSP. We have experienced 

passenger gro>vth with a flight schedule which supported business and leisure travelers 

and reflected the EAS requirements. 49 USC, section 41732, basic essential air service 

requires flights at reasonable times considering the needs of passengers with connecting 

flights. 

The Gogebic-Iron County Airport requests a letter supporting our choice Great Lakes 

Airlines, but also emphasizing the need to follow the EAS requirements and provide 

flight times that support the airport and local public's needs. 

Sincerely, 

Duane DuRay /j ^ ^ 

Airport Manag6^ 
01/27/2012 10:57 FAX 906 789 0015 SENATOR CARL LEVIN El 005 

Gogebic-Iron County Airport 

E5560 Airport Road 

GCXiEBiC-IRON AIRPORT BOARD ironwood, Michigan 49938 

Joseph Bonovetz, Chaimien Phone' 906-932-3121 Duane R. DuRay, Manager 

RobertBerg JimOiiver FAY- Qftft Q'^'j^iini Mindv Prenderville, Admin.Asst. 

LeRoyKangas Brian Tarro ^^^ - ytJb-yj^-44U1 

Bob Morin JoHnWiita e-majt: 

Paul MuDard Oonna Scorse iwdalrplane@fiyfromlronwood,com 

January 10, 2012 

Dennis J. DeVany 

Chief, Essential Air Ser\-ice Division, X-53 

Office of Aviation Analysis 

US Department of Transportation 

400 7"' .street, SW 

Washington, D.C. 20050 

Dear Mr. DeVany, 

At the regular scheduled meeting of the Gogebic-Iron County Airport Board (IWD) held 

on Januarj' 9,2012, the Airport Board had discussed the air service proposal DOT-OST1996-1266 submitted by Great Lakes Airlines, Ltd. 

The Airport Board welcomes the proposal to provide air service into MSP with some 

reservations. The schedule provided within the proposal (see below) would put an 

undesirable burden on our traveling public trying to utili7.e this service with connecting 

flights compared to the schedule shown below in the next paragraph. 

Time Frequency Time Frequency 

Arrivals 9:30 AM 123456 ' Departures 9:45 AM 123456 

4:00 PM 123457' 4:15 PM 123457 

Our current flight schedule (sec below) with early morning, midaltemoon. and evening 

flights has e.'nablished a very successfully ridersbip record and repo-se with both business 

and leisure travelers utilizinc this air serx-ice. 

7'inie 

4:18 PM 

9:28 PM 

Frequency 

1234567 

123457 

Time 

5:12 AM 

10:12 AM 

4:43 PM 

Frequency 

123456 

7 

123457 

Arrivals 4:18 PM 1234567 Departures 

If I undei'Sland correctly, 49 USC, section 41732, basic essential air service requires 

'flights at reasonable times considering tlie needs of passengers with connecting flights. 

The Gogebic- Iron County Airport has experienced over a 300% increase in passenger 

enplanements and dephmements over the prexaous 8 raontli period with the current 

schedule (see above). This schedule meets the needs and desires of passengers \\ ith 

connecting flights. 
01/27/2012 10:57 FAX 906 789 0015 SENATOR CARL LEVIN ©006 

Aside from the flight schedule, the Airport Board feels the reintroduction of MSP as the 

hub airport will be a very welcomed change that would prove to be a favorable 

connecting aiirport. 

Sincerely 

TV 

Duane DuRay 

Air]>ort Manager 

^Joseph Bonovetz 

Airport Board Chairman 
01/27/2012 10:57 FAX 906 789 0015 SENATOR CARL LEVIN ^00 7 

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01/27/2012 10:58 FAX 906 789 0015 SENATOR CARL LEVIN @008 

GREAT LAKES AIRLINES 

• 

Flight* 

5297 

5282 

Flight* 

Same 

Flight* 

Same 

Time 

10:11 am, 

4:26 p,m. 

Time 

as 

Time 

as 

Flight Schedule 

Local: (906)932-6057 

Toll Free; 1-800-554-5111 

From 

MKE 

MKE 

Frorp 

Weekdays 

From 

Weekdays 

Flight* 

5298 

5281 

Ftipht* 

Same 

Ffiqht* 

Same 

Time 

10:21 a.m, 

4:38 p.m. 

Tim^ 

as 

Time 

as 

MKE 

MKE 

l o 

Weekdays 

Is 

Weekdays 

GREAT LAKES AIRLINES 

Flight Schedule 

Local: (906)932-5057 

Toll Free: 1-800-554-5111 

Flight # 

5297-

5282 

Flight* 

Same 

Flight # 

Same 

Time 

10:11 a.tn. 

4:26 p.m. 

Time 

as 

Time 

as 

From 

MKE 

MKE 

From 

Weekdays 

From 

Weekdays 

Flight # 

5298 

5281 

Flight* 

Same 

Flight* 

Same 

Time 

10;21 a,m. 

4:36 p.m. 

Time 

as 

Time 

as 

l o 

MKE 

MKE 

Jo 

Weekdays 

Is 

Weekdays 
01/27/2012 10:58 FAX 906 789 0015 SENATOR CARL LEVIN @009 

®l 

GOGEBIC-IRON COUNTV AIRPORT 

E5S60 Airport Road, Ironwood, Michigan 49938 

Phone: (906) 932-3121 Fax: (906) 932-4401 

FRONTIER AIRLINES 

Flight Schedule Subject to Change 

ironwood to Milwaukee 

Departs 

5:12 a.m. 

10:12 a.m. 

4:43 p.m. 

Arrives 

6:50 a.m 

11:52 a.m. 

6:23 p.m. 

,".,' • • • ' • 

frequency 

Daily, except Sunday 

Sunday Only 

Daily, except Saturday 

j:r,:iV- V ,•• ',•• , 

Flight tf 

1972 

1956 

1970 

Departs Arrives Frequency Flight # 

2:35 p.m. 

7:45 p.m. 

4:18 p.m. Daily 1973 

9:28 p.m. Daily, except Saturday 190S 

" Begin Your Journey Here - Fly Frontier" 

GOGEBIC-IRON COUNTY AIRPORT 

E5550 Airport Road, Ironwood, Michigan 49938 

Phone: (906) 932-3121 Fax: (905) 932-4401 

FRONTIER AIRLINES 

Flight Schedule—Subject to Change 

IronwQOd to MilwaiMilli^^-^-v-. ••;•:; ••>i.;/-:." •••'•'^>".':-' '"•' ••-^'^•- \ 

Departs 

5:12 a.m. 

10:12 a.m. 

4:43 p.m. 

Arrives 

6:50 a.m. 

11:52 a.m. 

6:23 p.m. 

Frequency 

Daily, except Sunday 

Sunday Only 

Daily, except Saturday 

Flight # 

1972 

1956 

1970 

Milwaukee/Rhinelander to'lronwopd \:;:;Viii^jSSi|i^i;';"- r>i y^., ':;:.^.f!^^:^:y:.^ 

Departs 

2:35 p.m. 

7:45 p.m. 

Arrives 

4:18 p.m. 

9:28 p.m. 

Frequency 

Daily 

Daily, except Saturday 

Flights 

1973 

1908 

"Begin Your Journey Here - Fly Frontier" 
01/27/2012 10:58 FAX 906 789 0015 SENATOR CARL LEVIN DOIO 

Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. 

Annual Compensation Requirements for Essential Air Service at 

Ironwood, Michigan to Minneapolis/St, Paul ( MSP ) 

Two Round Trips - B190Q 

98.0% completion factor 

Departures; 

Block Hours: 

Revenue Passenger Miles: 

Available Seal Mites: 

1,227 

1.227 

1,122,000 

4,359.531 

Operating Revenues: 

Passenger: IWO-MSP 6.000 psgrs at J7.92 $527,520 

other: (at 0.62% of passenger revenue) 

Total Operating Revenues: 

S3,271 

5530,791 

Operating Expenses: 

Direct: Aircraft and Hull Insurance 

Fuel and 0(1 

Flying Operations 

Maintenance 

Total Direct Expenses: 

Total Indirect Expenses: 

Total Operating Expenses: 

Operating Loss 

Profit Element (5.0% of Total Operating Expenses) 

Annual Compensation Requirement: 

*** riWD] IRONWOOD, MICHIGAN 

FLT 

•DEPARTURES . 

DPT ARR TO 

£182.855 

S765,079 

5214,897 

5344,468 

EQP FREQ 

FIT 

y- 2703-• 

2707 

•ARRIVAL S — 

EQP FREQ FROM DPT ARR 

--*Et^••. • -^..iDaAy:,,,.,•:A:••^gF.^;>-n•^^m.•-•V. --^^mm:' 

..-.eEl. .. ...Dajly^>-7^:iJ^-' : :1^00,> . -M^J^BT 

$1,507,299 

5662,336 

$2,169,635 

($1,638,B44) 

$108,482 

$1,747,326 

No Upline Scheduling Restrictions