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Encouraging Aroostook Development ------~~-~------·--· December 1, 2011 

. The Honorable Raymond LaHood 

Secretary, U.S. Department ofTranspcrtation 

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

RE: Essential Ajr Service bidders for the Northern Maine R.cgjonaJ Ah;port- Presque Tsle. ME 

Delll' Secretary LaHood: 

I am the Vice President of LEADers Encouraging Aroostook Development (LEAD) located in Caribou, ME in central 

Aroostook County. LEAD is a multi-faceted, nonwprofrt; volunteer organization promoting and encouraging balanced 

economio dovelopmont within The County. One· of our primi!UY activities is to provide advocacy for the county' II mudl 

businesses. Caribou is located about 12 miles north of Presque Isle. 

The Northern Maine Regional Airport (NMRA), locat4d in Presque Isle, plays a vital role in the eoonomic vitalif31 of our 

region. Colgan Air, a contractor for US Airways that currently is the sole prov\der of commercial air service between 

Boston's Logan International Airport and NMRA, has filed an application to discontinue a1r service to Northern Maine. 

LEAD recently learned of a new law that allows Essential Air Service' bidders to submit proposals for 8-seat airors.ft to 

replace the 15-soat planes used by Colgan Air that will be leaving once a new carrier fs chosen. We are extremely 

concerned about this possible scenario for several reasons: 

• · Most important, at the time that NMRA plane service was reduced to the present lS·seat plane. public use of the 

airport demonstrated the need for a larger 34-seat plane. The region, including substantial volume from 

:oeighboring NGW Brunswick, has already seen diminished economic benefit in our air transportation sector. 

• The ourront 15-seat plane can fly non-stop to designated hubs beyond Boston to connect to other flights, an 

altemati:ve that will not be possible with an 8-seat plane. 

• No major carrier is likely to enter into a codesha.re agreement with a regional operator operating aircraft with 

le11s than 1 S seats. 

• The laok of spac. on an 8·sea.t plane is a substantial barrier to routine use by tourists and business people. Small 

planes will binder vacationing families) hunters and fi&hennen who fly into Presque Isle with all of their gear. 

Similarly, business people would be similarly hindered in bringing exhibita1 displays and .other bulky bags that 

may be needed for their visits. 

• Last, an 8-seat plane has no restroom facilities. Maine is the oldest state in the nation and Aroostook County's 

average age is 43, the oldest in the state. As a result there is a significant migration of "snowbirds, using the 

NMRA in the early fall months who then retutn home in the late spring months. Aircraft without restroom 

facilities would not work for people who have various medioal oonditions. lnoluding physical disabilities. 

On· bshalf of the LEAD Board of Directors, I urge you to maintain at least the current standard of a 15 seat aircraft. 

Slnoe~urs, 

~~~~ James Davis, Vice President 

4

EA.Ders Bneouraging Aroostook Development 

fSAroostook . 

Pcrtnarshlp for Progrtm po aax ng • caribou, M~ln• 04736. Phon~ (201) 498·8131-Pax (207) 493-3108 

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