04/21/2010 13:29 1-207-764-2501 P.I. CITY HALL PAGE 02/03 

City of ^resque Isle 

12 Second Street 

'^Presque Ish M8 04769-2459 

.^CLX (207) 764-2501 

Dor- oST-'^o«^- ^'^\ "^ 

April 21,2010 

r..;j 

;—I 

Dennis J. DeVany, Chief 

Essential Air Service Bivisiion 

Office of Aviation Analysis 

United StatM Department of Transportation $^ 

400 Seventh Street, S.W., Room 64171 o --

Washington, D.C 20590 

Dear Mr. DeVany: 

The at y of Presque Isle is pleased to provide comments to the US Department 

of Transportation (USDOI) regarding proposals received from Colgan Air, Air Charter 

Transport and Sovereign Air. AU three proposals were reviewed by the Presque Isle 

a t y Council, the Airport Advisory Board and the Airport Director. We appreciate the 

time that all fliree airlines took to develop their proposals and answer follow up 

questions. Based on this review, it is the recommendation of the Presque Isle City 

Council that Colgan Air be awarded the Presque Isle Essential Air Service (EAS) 

contract for the next two years. 

The prindpal reasons for the recommendation of Colgan Air by the Presque Isle 

City Council were as follows: 

*> Colgan Air offered 19 flights per week of a 34 seat cabin class aircraft. 

Charter Air Transport only offered 12 flights per week of a 30 seat cabin 

dass aiTcrafl:. Sovereign Air offiered a 19 seat aircraft with no catrin dass 

service. At only 12 flights per week and only 30 seats, Charter Air 

Transport did not meet the minimum number, of flights or seats outlined in 

the EAS proposal As a popular tourist destination, the lack of service on 

Saturday outlined in the Charter Air Transport proposal was an area of 

great concern. 

*>• Colgan Air was the only carrier that has significant experience in providing 

scheduled air service. Tlie other two are prindpaUy charter operations 

looking to expand in the scheduled air service area. Sovereign Air currently 

does not have authorization to conduct schedule flights using a 19 seat 

aircraft whidi is a minimum requirement of the EAS propos^ 

Accounting 764-2519 • Ciry Clerk 764-25ZO • City Manager 764-4485 • Code Enforcement 764-2512 

Economic and Community Development 764-2503 • Emercency Mannpemcnt 764-2570 • Finance Director 764-2517 • Payroll 764-2518 

Resource Mfinafiemcnt 764-2522 • Solid Wa-ite 764-2507 • Tax Assessor 764-251.3 • Tax Collector 764-2509 • Welfurc 764-2515 
04/21/2010 13:29 1-207-754-2501 P.I . CITY HALL KAtit kJJ/Wd 

•> Colgan Air was the orily carrier that is operating under FAA Part 121 safety 

regulations. Most major carriers operate under the higher safety 

xequirements of Part 121. Charter Air Transport is operating under Part 

135. At present^ Sovereign Air does not have the authority to operate 

scheduled air service with any aircraft over 8 seats. 

^ Northern Maine Regional Airport has one of the greatest distances to a 

competing airport in the lower 48 states. Given this long driving distance, it 

is very important in growing the local economy that the EAS carrier have at 

least one code share with a major carrier like US Airways. Colgan Air was 

the only proposal that had a code share. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a can at (207) 764-4485 or 

contact the Airport Director, Scott Wardwell at (207) 764-2550. 

Best Regards, 

JB/nm 

James Bennett 

Presque Isle City Manager