f;^ 

U.& Department of 

Transportation 

Office of fhe Secretary 

of Transportation 

DEPARTMENT OF • 

i.'^ANSPORWlON 

-.-•-'•'-zi 'JrcHATiONb 

2?l? FEB 2U p 3: n u 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

February 24, 2012 

The Honorable Jerry Johnson 

Mayor of West Yellowstone 

P.O. Box 1570 

West Yellowstone, Montana 59578 

Dear Mayor Johnson: 

I would like to update you on the Essential Air Service (EAS) situation at West 

Yellowstone and give you an opportunity to submit any comments if you wish. As you 

know, by Order 2011-12-3, December 12, 2011, the Department solicited proposals from 

all interested air carriers to provide EAS at West Yellowstone for the next two summer 

seasons, i.e., 2012 and 2013. In response to that order, we received proposals from 

SkyWest Airlines and Silver Airways (formerly Gulfstream International airlines). 

Copies of each proposal may be accessed online, at http://www.regulations.gov by 

entering DOT-OST-2003-14626 in the "Enter Keyword or ID" section. 

SkyWest Airlines proposes one option with 14 nonstop round trips per week to Salt Lake 

City International Airport using 30-seat Embraer Brasilia 120 aircraft. The carrier offers 

access to Delta Air Lines' global network. Sky West's proposal is for the summer 2012 

season only, which was done in anticipation of West Yellowstone's completion of the 

approval process for scheduled, commercial jet service, prior to the 2013 season. 

SkyWest proposes an annual subsidy rate of $389,412. 

Silver Airways proposes one option with 19 nonstop round trips a week to Billings, 

Montana, using 19-seat Beech 1900D turboprops. The carrier offers marketing under its 

Island Air codeshare affiliation and a spare aircraft located in Billings to assist with 

operational challenges. Silver Airways proposes a subsidy rate of $704,236 per season. 
Page 2 

Please note that the average passenger fares shown in the proposal do not necessarily 

reflect the average local fare West Yellowstone passengers would actually pay. Also, the 

fare shown is net of certain charges such as Federal transportation security fees, excise or 

ticket taxes, and Passenger Facility Charges. Of course, carriers have the discretion to 

charge fares they deem appropriate, and the passenger fares presented in this proposal 

have been developed for subsidy rate computation purposes only. 

You should also note that the schedules that the carriers have submitted are illustrative 

only, and that they may make schedule changes to reflect changing conditions, e.g., to 

better meet shifting cormecting bank times at the hub. The Department expects 

subsidized air carriers to maintain well-timed and well-spaced flights in order to ensure 

fiill compensation. 

We ask that you submit any comments you may have as soon as possible, but in any case 

no later than March 19, 2012. We will careftjlly consider your comments before we 

submit a recommendation to the Assistant Secretary for a decision. Should you have any 

questions or need additional time to draft your comments, please let us know. 

Please send your comments via e-mail to EAS(a),dot.gov or by fax to 202-366-7638. If 

you have any questions, please feel free to contact Brooke Chapman of my staff at 

brooke.chapman(a),dot.gov or 202-366-0577. 

A similar letter has been sent to Don DeGraw, Airport Manager, West Yellowstone 

Airport and Debbie Alke, Administrator, Aeronautics Division, Montana Department of 

Transportation. 

Sincerely, 

Dennis J. DeVany 

Chief, Essential Air Service 
e 

U ^ Department of 

Transportation 

Office of tt^ Secretary 

of Transportation 

] 200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Woshington, DC 20590 

February 24, 2012 

Mr. Don DeGraw 

Airport Manager 

West Yellowstone Airport 

The Town of West Yellowstone 

P.O.Box 1570 

West Yellowstone, Montana 59578 

Dear Mr. DeGraw: 

I would like to update you on the Essential Air Service (EAS) situation at West 

Yellowstone and give you am opportimity to submit any comments if you wish. As you 

know, by Order 2011-12-3, December 12,2011, the Department solicited proposals from 

all interested air carriers to provide EAS at West Yellowstone for the next two summer 

seasons, i.e., 2012 and 2013. In response to that order, we received proposals from 

SkyWest Airlines and Silver Airways (formerly Gulfstream International airlines). 

Copies of each proposal may be accessed online at http://vAvw.regulations.gov by 

entering DOT-OST-2003-14626 in the "Enter Keyword or ID" section. 

SkyWest Airlines proposes one option with 14 nonstop round trips per week to Salt Lake 

City International Airport using 30-seat Embraer Brasilia 120 aircraft. The carrier offers 

access to Delta Air Lines' global network. SkyWest's proposal is for the summer 2012 

season only, which was done in anticipation of West Yellowstone's completion of the 

approval process for scheduled, commercial jet service, prior to the 2013 season. 

SkyWest proposes an annual subsidy rate of $389,412. 

Silver Airways proposes one option with 19 nonstop round trips a week to Billings, 

Montana, using 19-seat Beech 1900D turboprops. The carrier offers marketing under its 

Island Air codeshare affiliation and a spare aircraft located in Billings to assist with 

operational challenges. Silver Airways proposes a subsidy rate of $704,236 per season. 

J 
page 2 

Please note that the average passenger fares shown in the proposal do not necessarily 

reflect the average local fare West Yellowstone passengers would actually pay. Also, the 

fare shown is net of certain charges such as Federal transportation security fees, excise or 

ticket taxes, and Passenger Facility Charges. Of course, carriers have the discretion to 

charge fares they deem appropriate, and the passenger fares presented in this proposal 

have been developed for subsidy rate computation purposes only. 

You should also note that the schedules that the carriers have submitted are illustrative 

only, and that they may make schedule changes to reflect changing conditions, e.g., to 

better meet shifting connecting bank times at the hub. The Department expects 

subsidized air carriers to maintain well-timed and well-spaced flights in order to ensure 

full compensation. 

We ask that you submit any comments you may have as soon as possible, but in any case 

no later than March 19, 2012. We will carefully consider your comments before we 

submit a recommendation to the Assistant Secretary for a decision. Should you have any 

questions or need additional time to draft your comments, please let us know. 

please send your comments via e-mail to EAS(a),dot.gov or by fax to 202-366-7638. 

you have any questions, please feel free to contact Brooke Chapman of my istaflf at 

brooke.chapman(a),dot.gov or 202-366-0577. 

A similar letter has been sent to the Mayor of West Yellowstone and Debbie Alke, 

Administrator, Aeronautics Division, Montana Department of Transportation. 

If 

Sincerely, 

Dermis J. DeVaiiy 

Chief, Essential Air Service 
e 

ULS. Department of 

Tronspiortation 

Office of tfie Secretary 

of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

February 24, 2012 

Ms. Debbie Alke 

Administrator, Aeronautics Division 

Montana Department of Transportation 

P.O. Box 200507 

Helena, Montana 59620-0507 

Dear Ms. Alke: 

I would like to update you on the Essential Air Service (EAS) situation at West 

Yellowstone and give you an opportimity to submit any comments if you wish. As you 

know, by Order 2011-12-3, December 12, 2011, the Department solicited proposals from 

all interested air carriers to provide EAS at West Yellowstone for the next two summer 

seasons, i.e., 2012 and 2013. In response to that order, we received proposals from 

SkyWest Airlines and Silver Airways (formerly Gulfstream International airlines). 

Copies of each proposal may be accessed online at http://www.regulations.gov by 

entering DOT-OST-2003-14626 in the "Enter Keyword or ID" section. 

SkyWest Airlines proposes one option with 14 nonstop round trips per week to Salt Lake 

City International Airport using 30-seat Embraer Brasilia 120 aircraft. The carrier offers 

access to Delta Air Lines' global network. Sky West's proposal is for the summer 2012 

season only, which was done in anticipation of West Yellowstone's completion of the 

approval process for scheduled, commercial jet service, prior to the 2013 season. 

SkyWest proposes an annual subsidy rate of $389,412. 

Silver Airways proposes one option with 19 nonstop round trips a week to Billings, 

Montana, using 19-seat Beech 1900D turboprops. The carrier offers marketing under its 

Island Air codeshare affiliation and a spare aircraft located in Billings to assist with 

operational challenges. Silver Airways proposes a subsidy rate of $704,236 per season. 
Page 2 

Please note that the average passenger fares shown in the proposal do not necessarily 

reflect the average local fare West Yellowstone passengers would actually pay. Also, the 

fare shown is net of certain charges such as Federal transportation security fees, excise or 

ticket taxes, and Passenger Facility Charges. Of course, carriers have the discretion to 

charge fares they deem appropriate, and the passenger fares presented in this proposal 

have been developed for subsidy rate computation purposes only. 

You should also note that the schedules that the carriers have submitted are illustrative 

only, and that they may make schedule changes to reflect changing conditions, e.g., to 

better meet shifting cormecting bank times at the hub. The Department expects 

subsidized air carriers to maintain well-timed and well-spaced flights in order to ensure 

full compensation. 

We ask that you submit any comments you may have as soon as possible, but in any case 

no later than March 19, 2012. We will carefully consider your comments before we 

submit a recommendation to the Assistant Secretary for a decision. Should you have any 

questions or need additional time to draft your comments, please let us know. 

Please send your comments via e-mail to EAS(a),dot.gov or by fax to 202-366-7638. If 

you have any questions, please feel free to contact Brooke Chapman of my staff at 

brooke.chapman(a),dot.gov or 202-366-0577. 

A similar letter has been sent to the Mayor of West Yellowstone and West Yellowstone 

Airport Manager, Don DeGraw. 

Sincerely, 

,1A^ 

Dennis J. D^any 

Chief, Essential Air Service 

c ^