### ".-^ARIMENTO F : i ' OPFRA^ION S •V I ^ 1 P 2'- U 2 SHENANDOA H VALLE Y REGIONA L AIRPOR T COMMISSIO N Januar y 25 , 201 0 Mr . Denni s J . DeVany , Chie f EA S & Domesti c Analysi s Divisio n Offic e o f Aviatio n Analysi s 40 0 Sevent

h Street , S.W. , Roo m640 1 Washington , D C 2059 0 RE ; Community Comment Essential Air

Servic e Proposal Shenandoa

h Valle y Regional Airpor

t Staunton , Virgini a Dea r Mr . DeVany : A s Chairman o f

th e Shenandoa

h Valle y Regional Airpor t Conmiission , f

a mwritin g t

o provid e commen t o n behal f o f ou r community regardin g th e Essential Ai r Servic e Proposal yo

u hav e receive dfo

r Shenandoa

h Valle y Regional Airport . We hav e reviewe dth e proposal receive db y th e Departmen t

o f Transportatio n fromColga n Air , Inc . an doffe

r th e following : Colga n Air , Inc . ha s provide dservic e t o th e Shenandoa h Valle y sinc e Apri l o f

2003 . I n Februar y 200 8 Colgan implemente dasignifican t upgrad e t o th e servic e offere dt o ou r community . Throug h ane w code-shar e relationshi p with Unite dAirlines , Colga n began providin g servic e t o th e Unite dAirline s hu b a

t Washingto n Dulle s a s Unite dExpress . Wit h thi s ne w agreement , air fare s an dconnectin g opportunitie s improve ddramaticall y wit h Unite da

t Washingto n Dulles . Colga n als o upgrade dth e aircraf t bein g use dfromth e 1 9 sea t Beechcraf

t 190 0 t o th e 3 4 sea

t Saa b 34 0 aircraft . Th e result s o f that ha s bee n a

n increas e i n passenge r

traffi c a t SH D o f 126 % sinc e th e ne w servic e began . A s yo u are aware , th e SH D marke t ha s demonstrate di

n th e pas t tha t i t can perfor

mwell , eve n unsubsidized , whe n provide dwith well-time dacces s to aviabl e hu b airport wit h th e appropriat e code-sharin g agreemen t

an dequipment . Th e curren t servic e bein g operate db

y Colga n i s simila r t o servic e tha

t wa s provide dprio r

t o Septembe r

200 1 whe n th e marke t

supporte deven mor e capacit y an dservic e unsubsidized . I n order t o maintai n th e positiv e tren di n passenge r traffic , i t i s imperativ e that

w e maintai n th e current leve l o f servic e i n al l aspects . Base do n th e analysi s above , ou r conmiunit

y endorse s th e proposal o f

Colgan Air , Inc . to provid e servic e t o th e Shenandoa h Valle y an drequest s tha

t th e Departmen t

of Transportatio n awar

dth e Essentia l Air

Servic e contrac t

to Colgan Air . P O Box 12 5 • 7 7 Aviation Circl e • Weyer s Cave , Virgini a 2448 6 US A 540.234.830 4 - Fax : 540.234.853 8 • flyshd.co m COUNT Y O F AUGUST A CIT Y O F STAUNTO N CIT Y O F HARRISONBUR G CIT Y OF Vi/AVNESBOR O COUNT Y O F ROCKINGHA M EXECUTIV E DIRECTO R Geral d w . Garbe rMaggi e A . Rago n Josep h B . Bowma n Jeffre y A . Wai d Willia m G . O'Brie n Gregor y W . Campbel lSHENANDOA H VALLE Y REGIONA L AIRPOR T COMMISSIO N

Essential Ai r

Servic e Proposa l - SHD Januar y 25 , 201 1 Pag e 2 Thank yo u fo r th e opportunit

y to provid e conunen t

o n behal f o f ou r community . W

e loo k forwar dto workin g vWt

h th e Departmen t

to develo p th e SHD marke t an dprovid e qualit

y ai r servic e to th e Shenandoa

h Valley . Shoul dyo u hav e an

y questions , pleas e d o no t hesitat e t o contac t

m e or th e Commission' s Executiv e Director , Gre g Campbell , a t (540 ) 234-8304 . Sincerely , Geral dW . Garber , Chairman CC : Lac y King , Mayo r - Staunton , Virgini a Honorabl e Bob Goodlatte , Congressman Dou g Shockey , Pirmacle/Colga n Ai r Kevi n Schlemmer , Departmen t o f Transportatio n

P O Bo x 12 5 • 7 7 Aviatio n Circl e • Weyer s Cave . Virgini a 2448 6 USA • 540.234.830 4 • Fax : 540.234.853 8 • flyslid.co m COUNT Y OF AUGUST A CIT Y O F STAUNTO N CIT Y O F HARRISCN8UR G CIT Y OF WAYNESBOR O COUNT Y O F ROCKINGHAf U EXECUTIV E DIRECTO R Geral d W . Garlie rMaggi e A . flagon Josepf i B . Bowma n Jeffre y A . War d Willia m G . O'Brie n Gregor y W . Campbel l