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# JFo m DODG E FOR T DODG EREGIONA LAIRPOR T



## 1639 Nelson Avenue , Suit

e 2 • For t Dodge , I A 5050 1 515.573.388 1 - Ext . 3 • fdairport@fortdodgeio\va.or g

Novembe r14 , 201 1 Denni s J . DeVany , Chie f EA S & Domesti cAnalysi s Divisio n Departmen t o f Transportatio n 120 0 NewJerse yAvenue , S E Washington , D.C . 2059 0 RE : ESSENTIAL AI R SERVIC E REQUES TFOR C0MIV1ENT

S Orde r2011-9- 5 Docke t DOT-OST-2001-1068 2 :- o

a n

-'-• : ^ . Dea rMr . DeVany ,

Th e For t Dodg e Airport Commissio n extend s ou rsupport fo rth e proposa l submitte d b yGrea t Lake s Aviation , Ltd . wit h a fe wsuggestion s an d requests . I n Jun e 2010 , Delta/Mesab a improve d ou rservice s b yofferin g direc t flight s an d a bette rtim e schedule . I n exchang e fo rthi s improvement , we agree d t o los e on e dail yflight . Th e market' s suppor t fo rthi s chang e wa s reflecte d i n th e increase d utilizatio n b

you rbusinesse s an d community . Enplanement s wer e u p b y50 % a t th e en d o f 201 0 an d ar e u p anothe r43 % throug h th e en d o f Octobe r2011 . Maso n City' s proposa l b yGrea t Lake s offer s fou rdail yflight s compared t o thre e pe rdayfo rFor t Dodge . Comparin g Maso n Citywit h For t Dodg e afte rbot h wer e reduce d t o tw o dail yflights-th e enplanement s wer e comparable . Therefore , w e fee l justifie d i n requestin g fou rdail yflight s t o continu e th e increase d utilizatio n o f th e ai rservic e fro m For t Dodge . Additionally , it' s importan t tha t Grea t Lake s Aviatio n agre e t o maintai n a competitiv e far e pricin g wit h clos e proximit yairports , alon g wit h agreein g t o maintai n simila rcompletio n standard s t o thos e w e enjo ywit h Mesab a Airlines . W e ar e gratefu l an d commen d th e cooperatio n o f effort s betwee n Delt a an d Grea t Lake s tha t wil l provid e th e user s o f ou rregio n continue d seamles s worldwid e connectivit yb yofferin g a n interlin e an d ticketin g arrangement , participatio n i n th e Delt a SkyMile s frequen t flye rprogram , an d bookin g capabilit yo n Delta.com . Al l o f thes e element s ar e extremel y importan t a s custome rdetermin e wha t airpor t an d airlin e t o use . Th e direc t flight s propose d byGrea t Lakes-wit h a reasonabl e tim e schedule-ar e anothe rimportan t elemen t t o utilization . Th e propose d qualit yai rservic e i s desirabl e an d it s usag e wil l fulfil l th e intende d expectation s o f EA S program . Than k yo u fo rallowin g ou rcommunit yadequat e tim e t o gathe rcomment s regardin g th e proposal s submitted; ' We hav e ha d grea t interes t an d communicatio n withi n th e community . We fee l tha t th e majorit yo f th e suppor t i s fo r Grea t Lake s Aviation , i f thei rservic e i s simila rt o th e professional , reliable , an d competitiv e ai rservic e w e hav e experience d wit h Mesaba/Delta .

Richar d Jacobsor

/ Airpor t Commissio n Chairma n Cc : Delt a Airline s Great Lake s Airline s Senato rCharle s Grassle y Senato rTo m Harki n Congressma n To m Latha m Greate rFor

t Dodg e Growt h Allianc e Airport Commissio n Mayo rMat t Bemric h an d Counci l Members , Cit yo f For t Dodg e Cit yManage rDavi d Fierk e Iowa Departmen t o f Transportation-Offic e o f Aviatio n For t Dodg e Chambe ro f Commerc e