".-^ARIMENTOF 

: i' OPFRA^IONS 

•VI ^ 1 P 2'- U2 SHENANDOAH VALLEY REGIONAL AIRPORT COMMISSION 

January 25, 2010 

Mr. Dennis J. DeVany, Chief 

EAS & Domestic Analysis Division 

Office of Aviation Analysis 

400 Seventh Street, S.W., Room 6401 

Washington, DC 20590 

RE; Community Comment 

Essential Air Service Proposal 

Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport 

Staunton, Virginia 

Dear Mr. DeVany: 

As Chairman of the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport Conmiission, f am writing to provide 

comment on behalf of our community regarding the Essential Air Service Proposal you have 

received for Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport. We have reviewed the proposal received by 

the Department of Transportation from Colgan Air, Inc. and offer the following: 

Colgan Air, Inc. has provided service to the Shenandoah Valley since April of 2003. In February 

2008 Colgan implemented a significant upgrade to the service offered to our community. 

Through a new code-share relationship with United Airlines, Colgan began providing service to 

the United Airlines hub at Washington Dulles as United Express. With this new agreement, air 

fares and connecting opportunities improved dramatically with United at Washington Dulles. 

Colgan also upgraded the aircraft being used from the 19 seat Beechcraft 1900 to the 34 seat 

Saab 340 aircraft. The results of that has been an increase in passenger traffic at SHD of 126% 

since the new service began. 

As you are aware, the SHD market has demonstrated in the past that it can perform well, even 

unsubsidized, when provided with well-timed access to a viable hub airport with the appropriate 

code-sharing agreement and equipment. The current service being operated by Colgan is similar 

to service that was provided prior to September 2001 when the market supported even more 

capacity and service unsubsidized. 

In order to maintain the positive trend in passenger traffic, it is imperative that we maintain the 

current level of service in all aspects. Based on the analysis above, our conmiunity endorses the 

proposal of Colgan Air, Inc. to provide service to the Shenandoah Valley and requests that the 

Department of Transportation award the Essential Air Service contract to Colgan Air. 

PO Box 125 • 77 Aviation Circle • Weyers Cave, Virginia 24486 USA 540.234.8304 - Fax: 540.234.8538 • flyshd.com 

COUNTY OF AUGUSTA CITY OF STAUNTON CITY OF HARRISONBURG CITY OF Vi/AVNESBORO COUNTY OF ROCKINGHAM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

Gerald w. Garber Maggie A. Ragon Joseph B. Bowman Jeffrey A. Waid William G. O'Brien Gregory W. Campbell 
SHENANDOAH VALLEY REGIONAL AIRPORT COMMISSION 

Essential Air Service Proposal - SHD 

January 25, 2011 

Page 2 

Thank you for the opportunity to provide conunent on behalf of our community. We look 

forward to working vWth the Department to develop the SHD market and provide quality air 

service to the Shenandoah Valley. 

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or the Commission's 

Executive Director, Greg Campbell, at (540) 234-8304. 

Sincerely, 

Gerald W. Garber, Chairman 

CC: Lacy King, Mayor - Staunton, Virginia 

Honorable Bob Goodlatte, Congressman 

Doug Shockey, Pirmacle/Colgan Air 

Kevin Schlemmer, Department of Transportation 

PO Box 125 • 77 Aviation Circle • Weyers Cave. Virginia 24486 USA • 540.234.8304 • Fax: 540.234.8538 • flyslid.com 

COUNTY OF AUGUSTA CITY OF STAUNTON CITY OF HARRISCN8URG CITY OF WAYNESBORO COUNTY OF ROCKINGHAfU EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

Gerald W. Garlier Maggie A. flagon Josepfi B. Bowman Jeffrey A. Ward William G. O'Brien Gregory W. Campbell