### THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON DC 20590



### The Honorable Richard E. Neal U.S. House ofRepresentatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Neal: July 17, 2012



### Thank you for yourlettersupporting the proposal submitted by the Westover Metropolitan Airport for a grant under the U.S. Department ofTransportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program. The Small Community Air Service Development Program was establishedto help smaller communities address air service deficiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares or insufficient service. Under the statute, the Department may make a maximum of40 grant awards each year, although no more than 4 awards may be to communities in the same State. In orderto provide communities with latitude in developing solutions to their air service deficiencies, the statute provides flexibility in the types ofprojects that can be funded. On May 15, the Department issued an orderrequesting that communities interested in receiving a grantthis year tile theirapplications by June 11. As these grant requests are pending before the Department, I cannot comment on the merits ofany particular proposal. I assure you that the Department will give full and fair conside ·on to all proposals that have been properly filed.

e in Docket this program.RICH:\RD E. i\lEAL 

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The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary ofTransportation US DepartmentofTransp01iation 400 

### i 11 StreetSW Washington, DC 20590 

### .June ll, 2012

RE: mnity Air ServiceDevelopment Program West ver etropolitan Airpo · (Docket DOT-OST 

### 2012-0069) Dear

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### I would like\o extend 1 port 

### in regards to the application for grant funding under the 2012 Small Community Air

- 'JCe Development Program submitted by the WestoverMetropolitan Airport. Located in Chicopee, Massachusetts; Westover not only is the site ofa commercial ait1)0ti, but also one ofthe largest i·eserve Air Force bases along the eastem seaboard. 

### In 2008, Westover lost dailycommercial airline service to Columbus, Ohio andGreensboro, · 

### North Carolinaprovided by Skybus Airlines. This occmTed in large part due to the cost of

### crude oilreaching a price of

### $140.00 perbarrel. During the first nine months ofoperation, service was very successful with passenger load factors of60%. Sk.ybus Airlines presence in the community providedbusiness and leisure options for the market, and served 

### the sixty-five thousand college aged young adults \Vho attend a varietyofinstitutions ofhighereducationlocated in the regions ofMassachusetts and Connecticut known as the "Knowledge Corridor." Th<.: airline locally employed approximately 45 people in a variety ofcapacities including ticket counter, baggage handling, security, and fueling, as well as airpoti operations. Or.le efficient solution for overcrowded commercial airports is the use ofunderutilized airporis 

### like Westowr. This practice 

### not only alleviates the overcrowding, 

### but sincethese airports 

### can offer lower fees, 

### it encourages airlines to open newroutes and markets to thepublic. 

### An additional benefit to commercial airline service 

### qt Westover is 

### an increase 

### in enplanements (passengers purchasingtickets) that exceed l0,000 percalendaryear. This level ofenplanements qualifies Westover for FAA Primary Entitlement 

### funds in 

### the amount of

### $1,000,000 annually. These funds are 

### usell for significant airport**improvement~** that create engineering, design and

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constructionjobs and increased tax revenues. thus·proviclingjobs and services for the public benefit. Westover serves as a gateway to Springfield, Central & Western Massachusetts, Northern Connecticut and the Pioneer Valley. Airline service to this area would enrichthe local economy with an increase ofrevenues from rental cars, hotel stays. restaurants, retail sales and tourist attractions. The return ofairline service will enhance our

### region's attractiveness to private investment and '.Vould improve the quality oflife for those who live and workin our region. This grant would enable Westover Metropolitan Airport to once again compete for new airline service to this region ofMassachusetts. I strongly urge your consideration ofthis application.

MemberofCongress