MICHIGAN'S INSURANCE COMPANY 

FAMUBLREAL VP.Q , .. 

IISISLRANCE' MiPom&i 

FARM BUREAU MUTUAL-FARM BUREAU LIFE "FARM BUREAU GENERAL ''"C''TT CiCCD'y'r \}" 

7373 Wesi Saginaw Hlgh-iwav, Boi30dOO. Lansing. Michigan ^8909-7900 • -'•'•I-' - 'J ; rh.'-. ! lu'ii] ^ 

Pnone (51 7) 323-7000 

February 13,2012 

Docket Management Facility 

U.S. Depatlmeni of Transportation, 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SF., 

West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

Ref: Sun Countr> Slot Exemption - Docket Number FAA-2012-0089 

Ladies and Gentlemen: 

Sun Country Airlines has requested an exemption from the slot limit lor Ronald Reagan 

Washington National Airport (DCA) set forth in § 93.123(a), to permit the FAA to create 

air carrier slots during certain limited hours for Sun Country's use. The proposed air 

carrier slots would replace two slot exemptions under DOT Order 2010-12-16 awarded to 

Sun Country. On January 6, 2012, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of 

Columbia Circuit vacated the DOT Order, and Sun Counir\' will lose its existing service 

between DCA and Lansing's Capital Region International Airport. Specitlcally, Sun 

Country desires one daily slot during each of the 1000 and 1100 hours, 'fhe proposed 

exemption would permit Sun Country to continue operating its existing services and avoid 

an inequitable result of the Court's order. 

Our organization. Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan, employees nearly 700 individuals 

in the Lansing area, and is very dependent upon the air service provided by Lansing's 

Capital Region International Airport. Due to our organization's need to make regular trips 

to.Washington.D.C.. we were.thrilledjo.have Sun-Counlry Airlines provide daily-service. 

from LAN to DCA beginning last April. The potential removal of this direct air access to 

D CA will have a negative impact on our travel needs and future planning. As a member 

o!" the Mid-Michigan Business Travel Coalition, I know our organization won't be the 

only company inconvenienced by the possible elimination of important business travel 

destination. Traveling a minimum of an hour to another airport outside of Lansing to 

make similar connections, just one year after introducing this service, would be very 

damaging to our community. 

The Sun Country DCA service is essential to the economic growlh of the Greater Lansing 

Region. The daily service is the only large aircraft (737-800) to Washington Reagan 

www.faTmbureauinsurance-mi.com 

A member of the Michigan Form Bureau family of Componies 
Airport, in the slate of Michigan outside of Detroit, Prior to Sun Countr>\ the regional 

community had requested the introduction of this service from numerous other airline 

operators without success. Accordingly, it is critical that the FAA take the necessary steps 

to ensure the continuation of the Sun Country slots at the established tlight times in 

support of Greater Lansing's business and economic grouih. 

Your immediate approval of this exemption, so that Sun Country can begin to enter 

flights schedules for sale for the balance ol"2012. will be greatly appreciated. 

Sineerelv. 

Jim Robinson. CLU. FLMl. LLIF 

Executive Vice President 

Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan