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C O XXS . Departmen t o f 120 0 Ne w JerseyAvenue , S E Transportatio n Washington , D C 2059 0 Offic e o f th e Secretar

y o f Transportatio n 

## FE B 2 1 ? m Th e Honorabl e Carl Levi n Unite dState s Senato r c/o Ms . Am y Berglun d 52 4 Ludingto n Stree t Suit e LL-10 3 Escanaba , Michigan 49829-394 9 Dea r Senato r Levin : Than k yo u for you r January 2 6 lette r

forwardin g correspondenc e fro mMr . Duan e DuRay , Airport

Manage r o f th e Gogebic-Iro n County Airport i n hronwood . H e expresse d concern s abou t

th e Essentia l Ai r

Servic e (EAS ) situatio n a t Ironwood , particularl y th e flight schedul e propose db y Great Lake s Aviation , Ltd . (Great Lakes) . A s yo u may know , o n Octobe r 20 , 2011 , th e U.S . Departmen t o f Transportatio n issue d Orde r 20II-10-15 , requestin g proposal s fro mcarrier s intereste di n providin g EA S a t Ironwoo dand/o r

Rhinelander , Wisconsin , for atwo-year

period , wit

h o r withou t subsidy . In respons e t o Orde r

2011-10-15 , Great

Lake s wa s th e onl y carrie r t o submi t

aproposal . Whil e Great

Lakes ' proposa l meet s th e cor e objectiv e o f th e program , w e understan dth e community' s concern s regardin g schedulin g an dreliability issue s an dwil l wor k with the man dGreat

Lake s t o optimiz e th e service . I hav e aske dou r

Offic e o f Governmenta l Affair s t o kee p you r offic e apprise do f

an y significan t

development s a s w e proces s thi s case . A s i s ou r norma l practic e i n suc h matters , I a

mplacin g acop y o f

your lette r an dmy respons e i n DOT-OST-1996-1266 , th e officia l record s o f

thi s case . Shoul dyo u hav e an y additiona l question s regardin g th e EA S program , pleas e d o no t

hesitat e t o contac t

m e a t (202 ) 366-1061 . Sincerel y yours . Denni s J . DeVan y Chief , Essentia l Ai r

Servic e Division, X-5 3 Offic e o f Aviatio n Analysi s01/27/201 2 10:5 6 FA X 90 6 78 9 001 5 SENATO R CAR L LEVI N IglOO l


### Fa x fromth e offic e of

. 

# Senato r Carl Levi n Escanab aOffic

e 52 4 Ludington Street , Suit

e LL-10 3 Escanaba , Michiga

n 4982 9 (906 ) 789-005 2 (906 ) 789-001 5 (fax)



## Pleas e delive r

to : [K r \kWM \DfM^ U Date : Ijoil/ 1 'd \ Fa x number : ^O^-obC^ " 1 ^ ^ ^ Time : From : ^ ^^ ^ Levi

n D Am y Berglun d V^lizabet h Ree

d D Othe r
Tota l numbe r o f page s including thi s pag e % 

### I f yo u do no t

receiv e al l th e pages , cal l (906 ) 789-005 2 Additiona l Comments :01/27/201 2 10:5 6 FA X 90 6 78 9 001 5 SENATO R CAR L LEVI NI2|00 2 CAR L LEVI N coMMrrrEES : MICHteA N ARME D SERVICE S GOVERNMENTA L AFFAIR S HusEE U SENAT E OFHC E BUILDIN G SMAL L BUSINES S WASHINGTON , DC20610-220 2 rfll;i*»i4.*.J Q1^^4.^ ^ ^^.VMO^^- * INTELUGENC E 

# '-'— ^ 1a

mtraptatc s Senate WASHINGTON , D C 20510-220 2 

### Januar y 26 , 201 2 Mr . Denni s DeVany , Chie

f Essentia l Ai r Servic e Division Office of Aviation Analysi s 120 0 Ne w Jerse y Avenue , S .E . Washington , DC 2059 0 Dea r Mr . DeVany : I a mwriting on behalf

o f Mr . Duane DuRa

y regarding hi s concern s wit h th e Essentia

l Ai r Servic e awar

dt o Grea t Lake s Airlines . As yo u will not e fromthe enclosedcorrespondence , Mr . DuRa y state s tha

t the y ar e concerned tha t the proposedGrea

t Lake s Airline s flight

schedule i s not

viabl e fo r their community' s needs , i n particula r the lac k o f a n earl y morning flight According to Mr . DuRay , the flight schedule fo

r Grea t Lake s Airlines ' operation s to the Gogebic-Iron Count

y Airport , fromJune 200 9 to April 2011 , experienceda5 0 percen t decreas e i n passenge r enplanements an

ddeplanements . Official s contribut e the decline to poor

scheduling an dreliability issues . Yet , unde r Frontie r Airlines , wit

h the earl y morning , midaftemoon andthe returning evening flights, the airpor t report s a n increas e o

f 300 percent . Enclosedi s additiona l documentation fo

r you r review . I wouldappreciat

e it i f yo u tak e the concern s raisedb

y Mr . DuRa

y int o consideration a s yo

u move forwar

di n the process . Pleas e infor

mm e of you r findings b y directing you

r respons e t o m y aide , Am

y Berglund , i

n m y Escanab aoffice listedbelow . Sincerely , 

# ^:u* ^ Car l Levi n CL/e r Enclosure s

oETBor r 47 7 MjCHtOA N AVINU E SujT C lee o DETBOiT , M l 4822 6 I313I22&.602 0 ESCANAB A E2 4 LUOINGTO N BTBEE T SUIT S LL-10 3 ESCANABA , M l <9M 9 ISOE I 769-005 2 GRAN D RAPID S FEDERA L BUILDIN G SuiT i 72 0 11 0 MICHIGA N STUEET , N,W . GRAN D RAPIQS , M l 4950 3 (B16 I 456-253 1 STAT E OFFICE S LANSIN G 12 4 WES T ALUGA N STUEE T SUIT E lai o LANSING , M l 4893 3 (5171377-150 8 SAGINA W ROO M 40 2 61 5 NotTT H WASHINGTO N AVENU E SAGINAW , M l 4B60 7 (989 ) 7H-249 4 TBAVEnS E CIT Y 10 7 CAS S STHEC T SUPFE E TBAVEHSECrry , M l 4960 4 (231 ) 947-956 9 WARRE N 3050 0 VA N DVK B AVENU E SUIT E 20 6 WAKKEN , M I 4609 3 (sae l B73-S14 501/27/201 2 10:5 6 FA X 90 6 78 9 001 5 SENATORCAR L LEVI N 1^00 3 J a n 2 6 1 2 a3:36 p Managerz-FB D 90G-932-440 1 P- 2



# Gogebic-Iro n County Airport

E556 0 Airpor t Roa d GOGEBIC-IRO N AIRPOR T BOAR D ironwood , Michiga n 4993 8 Joseph Bonovet , Chairma

n Phone ' 906-932-312 1 Duan e R . DuRay , Manage r RobertBer g jimOiive rPAv-'on R Q^io-Ad m MindvPrenderville , Admin.Asst . LeRoyKanga s BrianTarr o ^*^^ - ^'^o-iiji^l-Vi^i ^ Bo b Mori n Joh n Wil a e-mail : Pau l Mullar d Donn a Score e i\wdairplana@flyfro m Ironwoo d .co m

Januar>'25 , 201 2 U.S . Senato r

Carl Levi n 52 4 Ludingto n Stree t

Suit e LL-10 3 Escanaba , Michiga n 49829-394 9 Dear Senato r Levin , Th e Gogebic-Iro n County Airport i s requestin g an y support an dassistanc e t o ensur e a viabl e fligh t

schedul e fo r

ou r community' s needs . Include dar e th e document s for yov arevie w whic h compris e of ;
• Supportin g lette r

fo r th e Great Lake s Airline s Proposa l • Enplanement/Deplanemen t number s datin g bac k

t o January 200 8 • Grea t Lake s Schedul e datin g bac k t o thei r previou s ser\'ioe , Jun e 200 8 thru Apri l 201 1 • Frontie r

flight schedul e (Apri l 201 1 thru current ) • Grea t Lake s Airline s propose dflight schedul e date dDec . 201 1 Upo n revie w o f

th e enplanement/deplanemen t repor t an dtli e fligh t

schedul e for

Great Lake s Airline s operation s fromJun e o f 200 9 throug h Apri l 2011 , yo u wil l se e th e passenge r enplanement s an ddeplanement s decreas e b y ahnos t 50 % startin g i n Jim e 200 8 with continue ddeclin e throug h Apri l 2011 . Thi s patter n o f passenge r

usag e ca n b e contribute dt o poo r

schedulin g an dreliability issues . Th e schedul e fo r

Frontie r Airline s with th e earl y morning , midaftemoo n an dth e evenin g returnin g flight s ha s prove n t o b e ver y convenien t fo r ou r traveler s a s i t

i s reflecte dwit h th e spik e i n fligh t usag e o f 300 % increases . Thi s schedul e i s possibl e becaus e Frontie r

ovcmight s thei r

aircraf t an dcre w i n Ironwood . Reviewin g th e propose dflight schedul e presente dwith th e EA S bi dfromGrea t Lake s Airlines , th e firs t

inboun dflight

wil l depart

Minneapoli s (MSP ) at

8:3 0 a.m . an darriv e int o Ironwoo d(IWD ) at

9:3 0 ajn . Thi s flight

wil l b e very unproductiv e wat h i t . departin g MS P very early ; passenger s connectin g t o tha t fligh t woul dhav e t o arriv e int o MS P before 8 a.m. , mos t unlikely , thi s flight

woul dbecom e very unusable . Th e first outboun dflight

ou t o f IWD woul dleav e a t

9:4 5 a.m . an darriv e int o MS P at 10:4 5 a.m. , ad dabou t

3 0 minute s for

deplanin g an dgettin g int o th e MS P terminal . Th e nex t01/27/201 2 10:5 7 FA X 90 6 78 9 001 5 SENATORCAR L LEVI N 'e|00 4 J a n 2 6 1 2 03:37 p Manager/FB O 906-332-440 1 P- 3

lega l connectio n woul db e right aroun dnoon , bu t

MS P doe s no t

hav e agoo dflight batik s unti l 1 p.m . an dtha t leave s ou r

passenger s unabl e t o g o anywher e unti l afte r 1p.m . Th e secon dinboun dan doutboun dflights ar e se t a t asatisfactory tim e wit h connectivit y wit h connectin g flights both inboun dan doutboun drespectively . Th e EA S guarantee s th e community tw o (2 ) inboun dan dtw o (2 ) outboim dflights pe r da y o r atota l o f twelv e (12 ) roim dflights pe r week . T o mak e al l o f

th e flights productiv e o f

ou r communit y wifli goo dconnectivity , th e ai r carrier s hav e overnighte d thei r aircraf t i n Ironwood . Thi s ensure s a n earl y mornin g flight

an dlat e evenin g flight withou t havin g t o operat e a t

time s unproductiv e fo r

bot h travele r

an daircraft . Th e commimity' s larges t

concern i s relatin g t o th e ability t o us e thei r local airport

i f th e flights d o no t

suppor t cormectivity wit h flight

bank s a t MSP . W e hav e experience d passenge r gro>vt h with aflight

schedul e whic h supporte dbusines s an dleisur e traveler s an dreflecte dth e EA S requirements . 4 9 USC , sectio n 41732 , basi c essentia l ai r servic e require s flights a t

reasonabl e time s considerin g th e need s o f passenger s with connectin g flights. Th e Gogebic-Iro n County Airport request s alette r

supportin g our

choic e Grea t

Lake s Airlines , bu t

als o emphasizin g th e nee dt o follo w th e EA S requirement s an dprovid e flight time s tha t

support th e airport

an dloca l public' s needs . Sincerely , Duan e DuRa y /j ^ ^ Airport Manag6 ^01/27/201 2 10:5 7 FA X 90 6 78 9 001 5 SENATO R CAR L LEVI NEl 00 5 

# Gogebic-Iron Count

y Airpor t E556 0 Airport Roa d GCXiEBiC-IRO N AIRPOR T BOAR D ironwood , Michiga n 49938 Josep h Bonovetz , Chaimien Phone ' 906-932-312 1 Duan e R . DuRay , Manage r RobertBer g JimOiive rFAY- Qftf t Q'^'j^iin i Mind vPrenderville , Admin.Asst . LeRoyKanga s Bria n Tarr o ^^^ - ytJb-yj^-44U 1 Bo b Mori n JoHnWiit a e-majt : Pau l MuDar

d Oonn a Scors e iwdalrplane@fiyfromlronwood,co m Januar y 10 , 201 2 Denni s J . DeVan y Chief , Essential Ai r

Ser\-ic e Division , X-5 3 Offic e o f Aviatio n Analysi s U S Departmen t

o f Transportatio n 40 0 7" ' .street , S W Washington , D.C . 2005 0 Dea r Mr . DeVany , A t th e regular

schedule dmeetin g o f

th e Gogebic-Iro n Count

y Airport Boar d(IWD ) held o n Januarj ' 9,2012 , th e Airport Boardha ddiscusse dth e ai r

servic e proposal DOT-OST 1996-126 6 submitte db

y Great Lake s Airlines , Ltd . Th e Airpor

t Boardwelcome s th e proposal to provid e ai r servic e int o MS P wit

h some reservations . Th e schedul e provide dwithi n th e proposal (se e below ) woul dpu t a n undesirabl e burde n on ou r travelin g publi c tryin g t o utili7. e thi s servic e wit h connectin g flight s compare dt o th e schedul e show n belo w i n th e nex t paragraph . Tim e Frequenc

y Tim

e Frequenc

y Arrival s 9:3 0 A

M 12345 6 ' Departure s 9:45 A M 12345 6 4:00 P M 123457 ' 4:1 5 P M 123457 Ou r curren t flight schedul e (se c below ) wit h earl y morning , midaltemoon . andevenin g flight s ha s e.'nablishe davery successfull y ridersbi p recordan drepo-s e wit h bot h busines s an dleisur e traveler s utilizin c thi s ai r serx-ice . 7'ini e 4:1 8 P M 9:2 8 P M Frequenc y

123456 7 12345 7 Tim e 5:1 2 A M 10:1 2 A M 4:4 3 P M Frequenc y

12345 6 7 12345 7 Arrival s 4:1 8 P

M 123456

7 Departure s I f I undei'Slandcorrectly , 4 9 USC , sectio n 41732 , basi c essential ai r servic e require s 'flight s a t reasonabl e time s considerin g tli e need s o f passenger s wit

h connectin g flights. Th e Gogebic - Iro n County Airport ha s experience dove r

a300 % increas e in passenge r enplanement s an ddephmements ove r th e prexaou s 8 raontli perio dwit h th e current schedul e (se e above) . Thi s schedul e meet s th e need s anddesire s o f passenger s \

\it h connectin g flights.01/27/201 2 10:5 7 FA X 90 6 78 9 001 5 SENATO R CAR L LEVI N©00 6 Asid e fro mth e flight

schedule , th e Airport

Boardfeel s th e reintroductio n o f MS P a s th e hu b airport

wil l b e aver

y welcome dchang e that

woul dprov e t o b e afavorabl e connectin g aiirport . Sincerel y 

# T V Duan e DuRa

y Air]>or t Manage r ^Josep h Bonovet z Airport BoardChairman01/27/201 2 10:5 7 FA X 90 6 78 9 001 5 SENATO R CAR L LEVI N ^00 7



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### 5 o01/27/201 2 10:5 8 FA X 90 6 78 9 001 5 SENATO R CAR L LEVI N @00 8



## GREA T LAKE S AIRLINE S

• Flight * 5297 5282 Flight * Sam e Flight * Sam e Tim e

10:1 1 am , 4:2 6 p,m . Tim e a s Tim e as Fligh t Schedul e

Local : (906)932-605 7 Tol l Free ; 1-800-554-511 1 Fro m MKE MK E Fror p Weekday s Fro m Weekday s Flight *

5298 528 1 Ftipht * Sam e Ffiqht * Sam e Tim e

10:2 1 a.m , 4:3 8 p.m . Tim ^ a s Tim e as MK

E MKE 

### l o Weekday s 

# I s Weekday s



## GREA T LAKE S AIRLINE S

Fligh t Schedul e Local : (906)932-505 7 Tol l Free : 1-800-554-511 1 Fligh t # 5297 - 528 2 Flight * Sam e Fligh t # Sam e Tim e

10:1 1 a.tn . 4:2 6 p.m . Tim e a s Tim e a s Fro m

MKE MK E Fro m Weekday s Fro m Weekday s Fligh t #

5298 528 1 Flight * Sam e Flight * Sam e Tim e

10;2 1 a,m . 4:3 6 p.m . Tim e a s Tim e a s 

### l o

MK E MKE 

### J o Weekday s 

# I s Weekday s01/27/201 2 10:5 8 FA X 90 6 78 9 001 5 SENATO R CAR L LEVI N @00 9



### ® l GOGEBIC-IRO N COUNT V AIRPOR T

E5S60 Airpor t Road , Ironwood , Michiga n 4993 8 Phone : (906 ) 932-312 1 Fax : (906 ) 932-440 1

FRONTIE R AIRLINE S Fligh t Schedul e Subject t o Chang e ironwoo d t o Milwauke e Depart s 5:1 2 a.m . 10:1 2 a.m . 4:4 3 p.m . Arrive s

6:5 0 a. m 11:5 2 a.m . 6:2 3 p.m . ,".,' • • • ' •

frequenc y Daily , excep t Sunda

y SundayOnl y Daily , excep t Saturda y j:r,:iV- V ,• • ',•• , Fligh t tf 197 2 195 6 197 0 Depart s Arrive s Frequenc y Fligh t # 2:3 5 p.m . 7:4 5 p.m . 4:1 8 p.m . Dail y 197 3

9:2 8 p.m . Daily , excep t Saturda y 190 S

" Begi n You rJourne yHere - Fl yFrontier " GOGEBIC-IRO N COUNT Y AIRPOR T E555 0 Airpor t Road , Ironwood , Michiga n 4993 8 Phone : (906 ) 932-312 1 Fax : (905 ) 932-440 1

FRONTIE R AIRLINE S Fligh t Schedule—Subjec t t o Chang e IronwQO d t o MilwaiMilli^^-^-v- . ••;•: ; ••>i.;/-:. " •••'•'^>".':- ' '"• ' ••-^'^• - \ Depart s 5:1 2 a.m . 10:1 2 a.m . 4:4 3 p.m . Arrive s

6:5 0 a.m . 11:5 2 a.m . 6:2 3 p.m . Frequency

Daily , excep t Sunda

y SundayOnl y Daily , excep t Saturda y Fligh t # 197 2 195 6 197 0 Milwaukee/Rhinelande rto'lronwop d \:;:;Viii^jSSi|i^i;';" - r> i y^. , ':;:.^.f!^^:^:y:.^ Depart s 2:3 5 p.m . 7:4 5 p.m . Arrive s

4:1 8 p.m . 9:2 8 p.m . Frequency

Dail y Daily , excep t Saturda y Flight s 197 3 190 8 "Begi n You rJourne yHere - Fl yFrontier "01/27/201 2 10:5 8 FA X 90 6 78 9 001 5 SENATO R CAR L LEVI N DOI O 

# Grea t Lake s Aviation , Ltd . Annua l Compensatio n Requirement s fo rEssentia l Ai rService a t 

### Ironwood , Michiga n t o Minneapolis/St , Pau l ( MS P )

Tw o Roun d Trip s - B190 Q 98.0 % completio n facto r Departures ; Bloc k Hours : Revenu e Passenge rMiles : Availabl e Sea l Mites : 1,22 7 1.22 7 1,122,00 0 4,359.53 1 Operatin g Revenues :

Passenger : IWO-MS P 6.00 0 psgr s a t J7.92 $527,52 0 other : (a

t 0.62 % o f passenge rrevenue ) Tota l Operatin g Revenues : S3,27 1 5530,79 1 Operatin g Expenses :

Direct : Aircraft an d Hul l Insurance

Fue l an d 0( 1 Flyin g Operation s Maintenanc e Tota l Direc

t Expenses : Tota l Indirect Expenses : Tota l Operatin g Expenses : Operatin g Los s Profi t Elemen t (5.0 % o f Tota l Operatin g Expenses ) Annua l Compensatio n Requirement :
** * riWD ] IRONWOOD , MICHIGA N FL T •DEPARTURES .

DP T AR R T O £182.85 5 S765,07 9 5214,89 7 5344,46 8

EQ P FRE Q

FI T y - 2703- • 270 7 •ARRIVAL S —

EQ P FRE Q FRO M DP T AR R --*Et^•• . • -^..iDaAy:,,,.,•:A:••^gF.^;>-n•^^m.•-•V . --^^mm: ' ..-.eEl . . . ...Dajly^>-7^:iJ^- ' : :1^00, > . -M^J^B T $1,507,29 9 5662,33 6 $2,169,63 5 ($1,638,B44 ) $108,48 2 $1,747,32 6

N o Uplin e Schedulin g Restriction s