Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.56

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                         INTERIM LOAN AGREEMENT (N375SK)

                                      among

                            CHAUTAUQUA AIRLINES, INC.

                                  As Borrower,

                                       and

                 EMBRAER-EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE AERONAUTICA S.A.

                          Dated as of February 20, 2002

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            INTERIM LOAN AGREEMENT (N375SK), dated as of February 20, 2002,
between Chautauqua AIRLINES, INC., a New York corporation (the "Borrower" or
"Chautauqua Airlines"), and Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A., a
Brazilian Federal public company, with its main offices in Av. Brig. Faria Lima,
2170, 12227-901, Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil (the "Lender" or "Manufacturer").

            WHEREAS, Solitair Corp. ("Solitair") and the Manufacturer have
entered into the Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which the Manufacturer has
agreed to manufacture and sell to Solitair, and Solitair has agreed to purchase
and take delivery from the Manufacturer, from time to time, of, among other
things, EMB-145 model EMB-135 KL aircraft, each equipped with two Rolls-Royce
AE3007A1/3 series engines;

            WHEREAS, Solitair desires to assign its right to purchase the
Aircraft (as defined below) to the Borrower and Borrower desires to purchase the
Aircraft, pursuant to a partial assignment of the Purchase Agreement;

            WHEREAS, Borrower and Lender desire to enter into this Loan
Agreement in order to facilitate Borrower's acceptance of delivery of the
Aircraft pursuant to the Purchase Agreement as assigned.

            NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual
covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto
hereby agree as follows:

                             SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS

            1.1 DEFINITIONAL PROVISIONS. (a) Unless otherwise specified herein
or therein, all capitalized terms used in this Agreement, the Note or any
certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto shall have the
meanings set forth in Annex A hereto.

            (b) As used herein and in the Note, and any certificate or other
document made or delivered pursuant hereto, accounting terms relating to
Borrower and its Subsidiaries, to the extent not otherwise defined, shall have
the respective meanings given to them under GAAP.

            (c) The words "hereof", "herein" and "hereunder" and words of
similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a
whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Section,
subsection, Annex, Schedule and Exhibit references are to this Agreement unless
otherwise specified.

            (d) The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally
applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.

            (e) References to any Person shall include such Person's successors
and assigns subject to any limitations provided for herein or in the other
Borrower Loan Documents.
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            (f) References to agreements shall include such agreements as
amended, modified or supplemented.

            (g) The words "include," "includes" and "including" are not
limiting.

                       SECTION 2. AMOUNT AND TERMS OF LOAN

            2.1 PROCEDURE FOR BORROWING. On the Borrowing Date, the Lender shall
make the Loan to the Borrower in Dollars in the amount of the Commitment. The
closing (the "CLOSING") of the Loan shall take place before 12:30 P.M., New York
time, on the Borrowing Date at the offices of Rosenman & Colin LLP, New York,
New York, or at such other time and place as the parties hereto shall have
agreed. The Lender shall make the Loan to the Borrower by delivering the
Aircraft to Borrower pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, which Loan shall be
applied to Borrower's obligation to pay the Purchase Price under the Purchase
Agreement.

            2.2 TERMS OF REPAYMENT OF THE LOAN; INTEREST; EVIDENCE OF DEBT. (a)
the Borrower shall make scheduled principal payments on the Loan in monthly
installments in the amounts and on the dates identified on Schedule 1 hereto
(each such date, a "Payment Date").

            (b) On each Payment Date, the Borrower shall pay interest accrued in
respect of the unpaid principal amount of the Loan from the date the proceeds
made thereof are made available to the Borrower until such date, at the Debt
Rate. The expected amounts of such interest for each Payment Date are stated on
Schedule 1 hereto.

            (c) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the
Lender the unpaid principal amount of and accrued interest on the Loan on the
Maturity Date.

            (d) Payment of all amounts due to the Lender hereunder or under the
Note shall be payable by the Borrower in Dollars in Immediately Available Funds
to the Lender by wire transfer at such account as is specified by the Lender no
later than 11:30 A.M., New York time, on the due date therefor.

            (e) Upon payment in full by the Borrower of the principal of, and
interest on, the Note and all other amounts then due and owing under any
Borrower Loan Document or as otherwise agreed in the Borrower Loan Documents,
the Note shall be surrendered by the Lender to the Borrower for cancellation and
the Lender shall execute and deliver to the Borrower pursuant to Section 7.1 of
the Security Agreement an appropriate instrument or instruments (in due form for
recording) releasing the Aircraft and the balance of the Collateral from the
Lien of the Security Agreement.

            (f) The Borrower agrees to execute and deliver to the Lender on the
Borrowing Date a promissory note of the Borrower evidencing the Loan, such note
to be substantially in the form of Annex B hereto, with appropriate insertions
as to date and principal

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amount payable to the Lender in a principal amount in Dollars equal to the
principal amount of the Loan (the "NOTE").

            (g) If (i) the principal of the Loan, (ii) any interest payable
thereon or (iii) any other amount relating to the Loan payable hereunder or
under any other Borrower Loan Document shall not be paid when due (whether at
the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise and not giving effect to any
grace period in determining when any such amount is due), to the extent
permitted by applicable law, the amount of such overdue principal, interest or
other amount shall bear interest at the Default Rate, in each case from and
including the date of such non-payment until but excluding the date on which
such overdue principal, interest or other amount is paid in full (as well after
as before judgment). Interest accruing pursuant to the preceding sentence of
this Section 2.2(f) shall be payable from time to time on demand.

            (h) Interest shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year
consisting of 12 months of 30 days each. Any payment hereunder that would
otherwise be due on a day that is not a Business Day shall be due on the next
Business Day.

            (i) The Borrower agrees to record separately the name and address
and any other necessary identifying information of Lender in a register
maintained as part of a book-entry system. The Borrower and the Lender shall
treat the party whose name is recorded in such register as Lender with all
entitlements under this Agreement. The Borrower shall record the name of the
transferor, the name of the transferee and the amount of the transfer in the
register in the case of a transfer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set
forth in this Agreement or the other Borrower Loan Documents, no assignment or
transfer by the Lender of any rights or obligations under or in respect of the
Loan or the Note shall be effective unless and until the Borrower shall have
recorded such assignment or transfer in the register maintained pursuant to this
paragraph; provided that if any such assignment or transfer occurs while an
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Lender may act as Borrower's
agent for effecting registration of such assignment or transfer.

            (j) Payments of principal and other amounts due hereunder shall be
applied as follows: FIRST, to the payment of any amount (other than principal
and interest) due to Lender hereunder or under the Borrower Loan Documents;
SECOND, to the payment of accrued and unpaid interest due hereunder; and THIRD,
to the repayment of principal hereunder.

            (k) the terms of the Loan shall be subject to the provisions of the
Letter Agreement (N375SK) dated as of the date hereof between the Lender, the
Borrower and Solitair Corp., and, to the extent of any inconsistency between any
Borrower Loan Document and the Letter Agreement, the Letter Agreement shall
govern.

            2.3 MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN NOTES. If the Note shall
become mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen, the Borrower shall, upon the
written request of the registered holder thereof, issue, and deliver in
replacement thereof, a new Note, payable to such registered holder in the same
principal amount, with the same final maturity date, bearing the same interest

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rate and dated the same date as the Note so mutilated, destroyed, lost or
stolen. If the Note being replaced has become mutilated, such Note shall be
surrendered to the Borrower. If destroyed, lost or stolen, Lender shall furnish
to the Borrower such indemnity as may be reasonably required by the Borrower to
save the Borrower harmless from any cost, expense, damage, loss and liability
resulting therefrom, and an affidavit as to the destruction, loss or theft of
such Note and of the ownership thereof.

            2.4 PREPAYMENT.

            (a) Except as expressly provided in SECTIONS 2.4(b) or 2.4(c), the
Borrower may not prepay the Note.

            (b) Upon the occurrence of a Total Loss with respect to the Aircraft
on the Loss Payment Date, the Borrower shall prepay the principal of the Loan
together with all accrued and unpaid interest on the Loan and all other amounts
then due with respect to the Loan. Any sums payable to the Borrower by any
insurer or any other Person respecting the foregoing shall be paid over to the
Lender and applied as provided in Section 3 of the Security Agreement.

            (c) The Borrower shall have the right to prepay the Loan in full
prior to the Maturity Date, without premium or penalty, upon 10 days' prior
notice to the Lender; PROVIDED that no Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing, and PROVIDED that such prepayment includes the principal and all
other liabilities of the Borrower then due and owing under the Borrower Loan
Documents.

            2.5 USE OF PROCEEDS OF THE LOAN. The proceeds of the Loan shall be
applied by the Borrower solely towards payment for purchase of the Aircraft.

            2.6 TAXES. All payments to or for the account of the Lender under
this Agreement or the other Borrower Loan Documents shall be made without
deduction or withholding for or on account of any present or future Indemnified
Taxes whether or not collected by way of withholding or deduction from any
payment thereunder. If any amount payable to the Lender under this Agreement or
the other Borrower Loan Documents becomes subject to any Indemnified Tax imposed
by way of withholding or deduction, the Borrower shall indemnify and hold
harmless the Lender against such Indemnified Taxes and shall pay an additional
amount to the Lender so that the net amount actually received by the Lender,
after reduction by withholding of any such Indemnified Tax, including any
reduction for withholding applicable to additional sums payable under this
Section 2.8, shall be equal to the full amount that the Lender would have
otherwise received under this Agreement or the other Borrower Loan Documents.
Whenever any withholding Taxes are paid by the Borrower, the Borrower shall
promptly forward to the Lender an official receipt (or certified copy thereof)
or other documentation reasonably acceptable to the Lender evidencing such
payment to the relevant tax authority. The Lender agrees to provide to the
Borrower, not later than the Borrowing Date, and at reasonable times thereafter
upon the request of the Borrower, an IRS Form W-8 BEN properly completed and
executed by the Lender or any substantively identical successor form, provided

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that such Form W-8 BEN shall only be required after the Borrowing Date if
payments under this Agreement to the Lender would not otherwise be exempt from
withholding under U.S. Tax Laws; provided, however, that each Loan Transferee or
Loan Participant agrees to provide to Borrower upon its request, either IRS Form
W-9, IRS Form W-8 BEN or such other IRS Form W-8, as appropriate, but such form
will only be required from a Loan Transferee or Loan Participant if payments
under this Agreement to the Loan Transferee or the Loan Participant would not
otherwise be exempt from withholding under U.S. Tax Laws.

                    SECTION 3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                                 OF THE BORROWER

            3.1 CORPORATE EXISTENCE; COMPLIANCE WITH LAW. The Borrower (1) is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing pursuant to
the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, (2) is duly qualified to do
business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all jurisdictions in which
failure so to qualify would have a Material Adverse Effect, (3) is a Citizen of
the United States and a Certificated Air Carrier, (4) holds all licenses,
certificates, permits and franchises from the appropriate agencies of the United
States of America and/or all other Governmental Authorities having jurisdiction
necessary to authorize it to engage in air transport and to carry on scheduled
passenger service as presently conducted (except for any of the foregoing the
failure of the Borrower to hold or maintain which would not have a Material
Adverse Effect), (5) has its chief place of business and chief executive office
(as such terms are defined in Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code) at 2500
S. High School Road, Indianapolis, Indiana, (6) has the corporate power and
authority to carry on its business as currently conducted, and (7) except for
"code sharing" arrangements with other airlines, does not conduct business under
a trade, assumed or fictitious name.

            3.2 CORPORATE POWER; AUTHORIZATION; ENFORCEABLE OBLIGATIONS. The
execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Borrower,
do not require any stockholder approval, or approval or consent of any trustee
or holders of any indebtedness or obligations of the Borrower except such as
have been duly obtained, and this Agreement does not contravene any law,
judgment, government rule, regulation or order now binding on the Borrower, or
the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Borrower, or contravene the
provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation of any
Lien (except as provided in the Security Agreement) upon the property of the
Borrower under its Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or any indenture,
mortgage, contract or other agreement to which the Borrower is a party or by
which it or any of its properties is bound or affected. Neither the execution
and delivery by the Borrower of this Agreement nor the performance by the
Borrower of its obligations hereunder require the consent, approval or
authorization of, the giving of notice to, or the registration with, or the
taking of any other action in respect of any federal, state or foreign
Governmental Authority (other than a Brazilian Governmental Authority) or agency
on the part of the Borrower in connection with the borrowing of the Loan or with
the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of the Borrower
Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party other than, with respect to the
Aircraft, (a) the application for registration of such Aircraft in the name of
the Borrower with the

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FAA pursuant to the FAA Application for Aircraft Registration, (b) the filing
for recordation of the FAA Bill of Sale, the Security Agreement and the Security
Agreement Supplement and (c) the filing of a properly completed Uniform
Commercial Code financing statement and the filing of continuation statements
with respect thereto. Assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of this
Agreement by Lender, this Agreement, when entered into by the Borrower, will
constitute a valid and legally binding obligation of the Borrower enforceable
against the Borrower in accordance with its terms, subject to the effects of
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and
other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally, general
equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);
and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

            3.3 PURPOSE OF THE LOAN. The proceeds of the Loan will be used by
the Borrower to purchase the Aircraft under the Purchase Agreement.

            3.4 SECURITY AGREEMENT. Except for (1) the registration of the
Aircraft in the name of the Borrower pursuant to the Transportation Code, (2)
the filing and recordation pursuant to the Transportation Code of the FAA Bill
of Sale, the Security Agreement and the Security Agreement Supplement and, (3)
the filing of financing statements (and continuation statements at periodic
intervals) with respect to the security and other interests created by such
documents under the Uniform Commercial Code of New York, no further action,
including any filing or recordation of any document (including any financing
statement in respect thereof under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code of
any applicable jurisdiction), is necessary in order to establish and perfect the
security interest in the Aircraft as against the Borrower and any other Person
in any applicable jurisdiction in the United States;

            3.5 LITIGATION. (a) There is no pending or, to the knowledge of the
Borrower, threatened action or proceeding before any court or administrative
agency, and there are no final judgments of record against the Borrower which,
either individually or in the aggregate in the case of any group of related
lawsuits, is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect;

            (b) The Borrower is not in default of any material obligation for
the payment of borrowed money, for the deferred purchase price of property or
for the payment of any rent, nor is there any event which has occurred and is
continuing that, under the terms of the indenture, mortgage, loan agreement or
other agreement or instrument relating to such obligation, with the lapse of
time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default thereunder,
which default(s), either individually or in the aggregate, would be reasonably
likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

            (c) The Borrower is not in violation of any law, order, injunction,
decree, rule or regulation applicable to the Borrower of any court or
administrative body, which violation would be reasonably likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect;

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            3.6 NO DEFAULT. There has not occurred any event which constitutes a
Default or an Event of Default under this Agreement which is presently
continuing;

            3.7 TAXES. The Borrower has filed or caused to be filed all U.S.
federal, state and local and non-U.S. tax returns that are required to be filed
by them and have paid or caused to be paid all taxes shown to be due on such
return or on any assessment received by the Borrower, except any that are being
contested diligently and in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which
adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP;

            3.8 ERISA. (a) No "employee benefit plan" (as defined in Section
3(3) of ERISA) maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of either has
incurred an "accumulated funding deficiency" (within the meaning of ERISA) and
neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate of either has incurred any material
liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation;

            (b) Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the
      applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code (including all provisions
      thereof, compliance with which is required for any intended favorable Tax
      treatment) and other federal or state law, except where such
      non-compliance is not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
      Effect. Each Plan which is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the
      Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS and, to
      the best knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred that would cause
      the loss of such qualification. The Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate have
      made all required contributions to any Plan subject to Section 412 of the
      Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any
      amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with
      respect to any Plan. There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the
      Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any
      Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that has resulted, or is
      reasonably expected to result, in a Material Adverse Effect. There has
      been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary
      responsibility rules with respect to any Plan which has resulted or could
      reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and

            (c) The Borrower's interest in the Aircraft does not and will not
      constitute the assets of any "employee benefit plan" as defined in Section
      3(3) of ERISA or any "plan" within the meaning of Section 4975(e)(1) of
      the Code;

            3.9 SECTION 1110. Lender is entitled to the protection of Section
1110 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in connection with its right to take
possession of the Aircraft in the event of a case under Chapter 11 of the United
States Bankruptcy Code in which the Borrower is a debtor;

            3.10 INVESTMENT COMPANY. None of the Borrower or any subsidiary or
Affiliate of it is an "investment company" required to be registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

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            3.11 MARGIN STOCK. The Borrower is not engaged principally in the
business of extending credit for the purpose of buying or carrying margin stock
(within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System ("REGULATION U")) and none of the proceeds from the issuance of
the Note will be used directly or indirectly by the Borrower to purchase or
carry "margin stock" as such term is defined in Regulation G of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System;

            3.12 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The financial statements and any related
notes of the Borrower of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 have been
prepared in accordance with GAAP, and fairly present in all material respects in
accordance with GAAP the financial condition of the Borrower as at such date and
the results of its operations for the periods covered by such statements, and
since December 31, 2000, there has been no change in such condition or
operations which would result in any Material Adverse Effect;

           SECTION 4. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE LENDER'S OBLIGATIONS

            The agreement of the Lender to make the Loan requested to be made by
it to the Borrower on the Borrowing Date is subject to the satisfaction, or
waiver by the Lender, of the following conditions precedent prior to or
concurrently with the making of the Loan:

            4.1 MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. (a) no event shall have occurred that
would result in a Material Adverse Change since December 31, 2000, in the
business, operations or financial condition of the Borrower which change has a
material adverse impact on the Borrower's ability to perform any of its
obligations under the Borrower Loan Documents to which it is a party.

            (b) No change shall have occurred after the date of the execution
and delivery of this Loan Agreement in Applicable Law which would make it a
violation of law or regulations for (1) the Borrower or the Lender to execute,
deliver and/or perform the Borrower Loan Documents to which any of them is a
party or (2) the Lender to make its Commitment available.

            4.2 FEES AND EXPENSES. (a) On the Borrowing Date, the Lender shall
have received from Borrower all amounts then accrued and payable to Lender
pursuant to Section 9.11.

            4.3 DOCUMENTS. Assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by
the Lender and each other party other than the Borrower of the Borrower Loan
Documents to which it is a party, each of the Borrower Loan Documents shall have
been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Borrower and shall be in
full force and effect and executed counterparts shall have been delivered to the
Borrower and the Lender, and their respective counsel, PROVIDED that only the
Lender shall receive executed originals of the Note.

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            4.4 SECURITY INTEREST. A Uniform Commercial Code financing statement
naming Lender as secured party in respect of the security interest created by or
pursuant to the Security Agreement shall have been executed and delivered by the
Borrower.

            4.5 AUTHORIZATION. On the Borrowing Date, the Lender shall have
received the following, in each case in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to it:

            (a) a copy of the Articles of Incorporation of the Borrower
      certified by the Secretary of State of the State of New York and a copy of
      the Bylaws and resolutions of the board of directors of the Borrower
      certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Borrower, duly
      authorizing the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of
      each of the Borrower Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party, and
      an incumbency certificate as to the Person or Persons authorized to
      execute and deliver such documents on its behalf and including specimens
      of the signatures of such Person or Persons; and

            (b) such other documents and evidence with respect to the Borrower
      as the Lender or its counsel may reasonably request in order to establish
      the authority of the Borrower to consummate the Borrower Loan Documents to
      which it is a party and the taking of all corporate proceedings in
      connection therewith.

            4.6 GOVERNMENTAL APPROVAL. All appropriate action required to have
been taken by Borrower on or prior to the Delivery Date by the FAA, or any
governmental or political agency, subdivision or instrumentality of the United
States or Brazil in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement shall have been taken, and all orders, permits, waivers,
authorizations, exemptions and approvals of such entities required to be in
effect on the Delivery Date in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement shall have been issued, and all such orders, permits, waivers,
authorizations, exemptions and approvals shall be in full force and effect on
the Delivery Date.

            4.7 FAA MATTERS. On the Delivery Date the following statements shall
be true, and the Lender shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to
it to the effect that:

            (a) Subject to the filing and recordation with the FAA of the FAA
      Aircraft Registration Application and the FAA Bill of Sale on the Delivery
      Date, the Borrower has good and valid title to the Aircraft, free and
      clear of Liens other than the rights of Lender pursuant to the security
      interest created by the Security Agreement;

            (b) The FAA Aircraft Registration Application in the name of the
      Borrower (together with any required affidavits) has been duly filed with
      the FAA;

            (c) Subject on the Delivery Date to the registration of the Aircraft
      in the name of the Borrower with the FAA, the Borrower has authority from
      all applicable

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      Governmental Authorities to (i) bring the Aircraft into the United States
      and (ii) operate such Aircraft;

            (d) The FAA Bill of Sale and the Security Agreement have been duly
      filed with the FAA for recordation;

            (e) The Lender is entitled to the protection of Section 1110 of the
      United States Bankruptcy Code in connection with its rights to take
      possession of the Aircraft in the event of a case under Chapter 11 of the
      United States Bankruptcy Code in which the Borrower is a debtor; and

            (f) On the Delivery Date, the Borrower shall be in the process of
      obtaining an FAA Certificate of Airworthiness for the Aircraft;

            4.8 REPRESENTATIONS. The representations and warranties of the
Borrower contained herein and in the other Borrower Loan Documents to which the
Borrower, is a party shall be true and accurate as though made on and as of such
date except to the extent that such representations and warranties relate solely
to an earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties shall have
been true and accurate on and as of such date), and the Lender shall have
received a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower to such effect.

            4.9 ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS. On the Delivery Date,

            (a) no event shall have occurred and be continuing, or be reasonably
likely to result from the purchase, sale or mortgage of the Aircraft, which
constitutes a a default or a breach under the Purchase Agreement;

            (b) no Material Adverse Change shall have occurred, or other event
that would have a Material Adverse Effect; and

            (c) the Aircraft shall be located in Sao Jose dos Campos, Sao Paulo,
Brazil or such other location as may be acceptable to the Lender; and

            4.10 OPINIONS. On the Borrowing Date the Lender shall have received
an opinion addressed to it from Hughes Hubbard & Reed, LLP, counsel for the
Borrower, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to it.

            4.11 CERTIFICATES. The Lender shall have received a certificate
signed by an officer of the Borrower dated the Delivery Date addressed to the
Lender and certifying as to the fulfillment of all conditions in Section 4.6
(insofar as it relates to the United States), Section 4.8 and Section 4.14 (to
the knowledge of the Borrower).

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            4.12 INSURANCE. The Lender shall have received an independent
insurance broker's report, and certificates of insurance, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Lender, as to the due compliance with the terms
of Section 3.4 of the Security Agreement relating to insurance with respect to
the Aircraft.

            4.13 TOTAL LOSS. On the Delivery Date no Total Loss (or event which
with the passage of time would be reasonably likely to become a Total Loss) with
respect to the Airframe or any Engine shall have occurred.

            4.14 LITIGATION. No action or proceeding shall have been instituted
nor shall governmental action be threatened before any court or Governmental
Authority, nor shall any order, judgment or decree have been issued or proposed
to be issued by any court or Governmental Authority at the time of the Delivery
Date to set aside, restrain, enjoin or prevent the completion and consummation
of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.

            4.15 CLOSING DOCUMENTS. All proceedings taken in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby and the other Borrower Loan Documents and all
documents and papers relating thereto shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
Lender and its counsel, and the Lender and its counsel shall have received
copies of such documents and papers as the Lender or its counsel may reasonably
request in connection therewith or as a basis for such counsel's closing
opinion, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lender and its
counsel.

            4.16 CREDIT APPROVAL. On the Borrowing Date, Lender shall have
received a copy of (1) the printout of the screen of the Register of Export - RE
and of the Register of Credit Operation - RC, obtained through the SISCOMEX
(Bureau of Foreign Trade) System, evidencing the authorization for export of the
Aircraft and showing and Agencia Especial de Financiamento Industrial as
lender/creditor in connection with the financing of the Total Invoice Cost of
the Aircraft, and (2) the written approval (in a form reasonably satisfactory to
Lender) obtained by the Manufacturer from the Governmental Authority
administering the Proex Program relating to the application of the Proex Program
to the Aircraft as financed at the Closing pursuant to the provisions of the
Borrower Loan Documents.

                           SECTION 5. QUIET ENJOYMENT

            The Lender agrees that so long as no Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, neither it nor any other Person claiming by, through
or under it shall take any action contrary to, or otherwise in any way interfere
with or disturb, the quiet enjoyment of the use and possession of the Aircraft,
the Airframe or any Engine by the Borrower or any transferee of any interest in
any thereof permitted under the Security Agreement.

                        SECTION 6. INTENTIONALLY OMITTED

                                       12
<Page>

                      SECTION 7. COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER

            7.1 COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER. The Borrower hereby agrees that, so
long as the Loan is owing to the Lender hereunder, it shall furnish to the
Lender:

                  (a) (i) within 45 days after the end of each of the first
            three quarterly fiscal periods in each fiscal year of the company, a
            consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower (and its consolidated
            subsidiaries, if any) prepared by it as of the close of such period,
            together with the related consolidated statements of income and
            changes in cash flow for such period, together with a certificate of
            an authorized officer of the Borrower that such financial statements
            present fairly in all material respects in accordance with generally
            accepted accounting principles the information contained therein
            subject to year end adjustments and the absence of required
            footnote,

                  (ii) within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year of
            the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower (and its
            consolidated subsidiaries, if any) as of the close of such fiscal
            year, together with the related consolidated statements of income
            and changes in cash flow for such fiscal year, as audited by
            independent public accountants.

            (b) together with the delivery of each set of financial statements
      pursuant to paragraphs (a) above, a certificate executed by an authorized
      officer of the Borrower stating that, to his knowledge, no Default or
      Event of Default has occurred thereunder or if any has occurred specifying
      the nature thereof and the steps proposed to be taken to cure such Default
      or Event of Default, if curable;

            (c) such other reports and information regarding the Borrower as
      Lender shall reasonably request;

            (d) INTENTIONALLY OMITTED

            (e) Promptly upon receipt thereof by the Borrower, copies of all
      communications regarding any event that could reasonably be expected to
      result in a Material Adverse Effect, received by the Borrower from the
      manufacturer of any of the Engines or the Borrower's insurance carrier or
      broker, as the case may be, and promptly upon sending the same, copies of
      all notices and communications regarding events described above sent by
      the Borrower to such manufacturer of such Engines or such insurance
      carrier or broker.

                                       13
<Page>

            7.2 COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER. The Borrower will not consolidate
with or merge into any other person under circumstances in which Borrower is not
the surviving corporation, or convey, transfer or lease in one or more
transactions all or substantially all of its assets to any other Person, unless:

                  (a) such Person is organized, existing and in good standing
      under the Laws of the United States, any State of the United States or the
      District of Columbia and, upon consummation of such transaction, such
      person will be a Certificated Air Carrier;

                  (b) such Person executes and delivers to the Lender a duly
      authorized, legal, valid, binding and enforceable agreement, reasonably
      satisfactory in form and substance to Lender, containing an effective
      assumption by such person of the due and punctual performance and
      observance of each covenant, agreement and condition in the Borrower Loan
      Documents to be performed or observed by Borrower;

                  (c) such Person makes such filings and recordings with the FAA
      pursuant to the Transportation Code as shall be necessary to evidence such
      consolidation or merger;

                  (d) immediately after giving effect to such consolidation or
      merger no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

                  (e) the net worth (as determined under GAAP) of such Person
      immediately after giving effect to such transaction is not materially less
      than the greater of (x) the net worth (determined as aforesaid) of the
      Borrower immediately prior to such transaction or (y) the net worth
      (determined as aforesaid) of the Borrower on March 31, 2001.

                  Upon any such consolidation or merger of Borrower with or
      into, or the conveyance, transfer or lease by Borrower of all or
      substantially all of its assets to, any person in accordance with this
      Section 7.2, such Person will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may
      exercise every right and power of, Borrower under the Borrower Loan
      Documents with the same effect as if such Person had been named as
      "Borrower" therein. No such consolidation or merger, or conveyance,
      transfer or lease, shall have the effect of releasing Borrower or such
      Person from any of the obligations, liabilities, covenants or undertakings
      of Borrower under the Borrower Loan Documents.

            7.3 CERTAIN ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF BORROWER . The Borrower agrees
and covenants that it will:

            (a) EXISTENCE AND CITIZENSHIP. At all times maintain (a) subject to
      Section 7.2, its corporate existence in good standing under the laws of
      its charter jurisdiction and keep current all necessary filings related
      thereto, (b) its status as a Citizen of the United States, (c) its status
      as a Certificated Air Carrier, (d) its right to transact business in each

                                       14
<Page>

      jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned or leased by
      it or the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary,
      except to the extent failure to comply with this clause (d) will not have
      a Material Adverse Effect and (e) all licenses, certificates, permits and
      franchises necessary to authorize the Borrower to engage in the business
      of air transport and the carrying on of scheduled passenger service as
      presently conducted.

            (b) PAYMENT OF TAXES AND CLAIMS. Pay when due all Taxes, assessments
      and other liabilities payable by the Borrower, except (other than with
      respect to Taxes collected by withholding) as contested in good faith and
      by appropriate proceedings, PROVIDED reserves reasonably deemed
      appropriate by the Borrower have been established with respect thereto,
      and except to the extent that failure to comply with this Section 7.3(b)
      will not have a Material Adverse Effect.

            (c) NOTICE OF LITIGATION. Give prompt written notice to the Lender
      in reasonable detail of any litigation or governmental proceeding pending
      or, to its knowledge, threatened against the Borrower that Borrower would
      have had to have report if it were subject to, the reporting requirements
      of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

            (d) SALE OF THE COLLATERAL. Not sell, transfer, convey, lease or
      otherwise dispose of (or enter into any commitment to sell, transfer,
      convey, lease or otherwise dispose of) all or part of the Collateral
      (whether in one or a series of transactions), except as permitted pursuant
      to the Security Agreement.

            (e) LOCATION OF CHIEF PLACE OF BUSINESS. Not change the location of
      its chief place of business or chief executive office without 30 days'
      prior written notice to Lender (which relocation shall not occur to a
      jurisdiction in which the Uniform Commercial Code has not been enacted or
      is not in full force and effect).

            (f) CODE-SHARING. Except for "code sharing" arrangements with other
      airlines, shall not conduct business under a trade, assumed or fictitious
      name without 10 days' prior written notice to Lender.

            7.4 CERTAIN ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER. The Borrower
covenants and agrees with the Lender, as follows:

            (a) The Borrower, at its expense, will cause to be done, executed,
      acknowledged and delivered all and every such further acts, documents,
      instruments, conveyances and assurances as the Lender shall reasonably
      request to establish and protect the perfected Lien of the Security
      Agreement and the other rights and remedies intended to be created in
      favor of the Lender under the Borrower Loan Documents; PROVIDED, that any
      instrument or other document so executed by the Borrower will not

                                       15
<Page>

      expand any obligations or limit any rights of the Borrower in respect of
      the transactions contemplated by any of the Borrower Loan Documents.

            (b) The Borrower will, at its expense and forthwith upon delivery of
      the Aircraft to the Borrower under the Purchase Agreement, cause (i) the
      FAA Bill of Sale, the FAA Aircraft Registration Application, the Security
      Agreement and any amendments to the Security Agreement to be promptly
      filed and recorded, or filed for recording, to the extent required under
      the Transportation Code, and (ii) the financing statements referred to in
      Section 4.6 to be promptly filed in all places necessary. The Borrower
      shall at all times thereafter throughout the Term cause the Aircraft to
      remain duly registered in the name of the Borrower under the
      Transportation Code. The Borrower agrees to furnish the Lender with copies
      of the foregoing documents with recording data as promptly as practicable
      following the issuance of same by the FAA.

            (c) Promptly upon the registration of the Aircraft and the recording
      of the FAA Bill of Sale, the Security Agreement pursuant to the
      Transportation Code, the Borrower will cause FAA Counsel to deliver to the
      Lender and the Borrower an opinion as to the due and valid registration of
      the Aircraft in the name of the Borrower, the due recording of the FAA
      Bill of Sale, the Security Agreement and the lack of filing of any
      intervening documents with respect to the Aircraft.

            (d) The Borrower, at its expense, will take or cause to be taken
      such action with respect to the recording, filing, re-recording and
      re-filing of the FAA Bill of Sale, the Security Agreement and any
      financing statements or other instruments as are necessary to maintain the
      ownership interest of the Borrower in the Aircraft and, so long as the
      Security Agreement is in effect, the security interest created by the
      Security Agreement and will furnish to Lender timely notice of the
      necessity of such action, together with such instruments, in execution
      form, and such other information as may be required to enable the Lender
      to take such action.

                          SECTION 8. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

            8.1 EVENTS OF DEFAULT. Each of the following shall constitute an
"EVENT OF DEFAULT":

            (a) (i) The Borrower shall fail to make the payment of principal of
      or interest on the Loan within five (5) Business Days after the same shall
      become due or (ii) the Borrower shall fail to make any payment when the
      same shall become due of any other amount due from Borrower under this
      Agreement or the Security Agreement and such failure shall continue
      unremedied for ten (10) days after the receipt by the Borrower of written
      demand therefor from the Lender, as the case may be; or

            (b) The Borrower shall fail to carry and maintain on or with respect
      to the Aircraft (or cause to be carried and maintained) insurance required
      to be maintained in

                                       16
<Page>

      accordance with the provisions of the Security Agreement; PROVIDED,
      HOWEVER, that in the case of insurance with respect to which cancellation,
      change or lapse for nonpayment of premium shall not be effective as to the
      Borrower or the Lender for thirty (30) days (seven (7) days or such other
      period as may be customary in the war risk and allied perils coverage)
      after receipt of notice by the Lender of such cancellation, change or
      lapse, no such failure shall constitute an Event of Default until the
      earlier of (x) the date such failure shall have continued unremedied for a
      period of twenty (20) days (five (5) days in the case of any war risk and
      allied perils coverage or such lesser period as shall then be customary
      for such insurance in the major aviation insurance markets) after receipt
      by the Lender of such notice of cancellation, change or lapse or (y) such
      insurances not being in effect as to the Lender; or

            (c) The Borrower shall have failed to perform or observe (or caused
      to be performed and observed) in any material respect any other covenant
      or agreement to be performed or observed by it under any Borrower Loan
      Document, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30
      days after written notice thereof by Lender; PROVIDED, that if the
      Borrower shall have undertaken to cure any such failure which relates to
      maintenance, service, repair, overhaul or modifications, and,
      notwithstanding the reasonable diligence of the Borrower in attempting to
      cure such failure, such failure cannot be cured by the payment of money or
      otherwise within said 30-day period but is curable with future due
      diligence, there shall exist no Event of Default under this Section 8.1(c)
      so long as the Borrower is proceeding with due diligence to cure such
      failure, and the Lender's rights and interests in the Aircraft are not
      adversely affected thereby in any material respect, and such failure is
      cured within an additional period of 90 days; or

            (d) Any representation or warranty made by the Borrower herein or in
      any other Borrower Loan Document or any other document or certificate
      furnished by the Borrower in connection herewith or therewith or pursuant
      hereto or thereto shall prove to have been incorrect in any material
      respect as of the time made or deemed made, PROVIDED, that no such Event
      of Default shall be deemed to have occurred if the effect of such
      incorrectness is capable of being cured and is cured within a period of 30
      days after the receipt by the Borrower of a written notice from Lender
      notifying the Borrower, of the existence of such incorrectness, and the
      Borrower's and the Lender's rights and interests in the Aircraft are not
      adversely affected thereby in any material respect; or

            (e) The commencement of an involuntary case or other proceeding in
      respect of the Borrower under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now or
      hereafter constituted, or any other applicable federal or state
      bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law in the United States or
      seeking the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian,
      trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Borrower for all or
      substantially all of its property, or seeking the winding-up or
      liquidation of its affairs and the continuation of any such case or other
      proceeding undismissed or unstayed for a period of 60 consecutive days, or
      an order for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code with respect
      to the Borrower

                                       17
<Page>

      as debtor or any other order, judgment or decree shall be entered in any
      proceeding by any court of competent jurisdiction appointing, without the
      consent of the Borrower, a receiver, trustee or liquidator of the Borrower
      or for all or substantially all of its property, or sequestering of all or
      substantially all of the property of the Borrower and any such order,
      judgment or decree or appointment or sequestration shall be final or shall
      remain in force undismissed, unstayed or unvacated for a period of 60
      consecutive days after the date of entry thereof; or

            (f) (i) The Borrower shall consent to the appointment of a
      custodian, receiver, trustee or liquidator (or other similar official) of
      itself, the Aircraft or of a substantial part of its property, or shall
      admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they come
      due, or a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that the
      Borrower is generally not paying its debts as such debts become due, or
      the Borrower shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors,
      or the Borrower shall take any corporate action to authorize any of the
      foregoing; or

            (ii) The Borrower shall file a voluntary petition in bankruptcy or a
      voluntary petition or an answer seeking reorganization in a proceeding
      under any bankruptcy laws (as now or hereafter in effect) or an answer
      admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against the
      Borrower in any such proceeding, or the Borrower shall, by voluntary
      petition, answer or consent, seek relief under the provisions of any now
      existing or future bankruptcy or other similar law providing for the
      reorganization or winding-up of debtors, or providing for an agreement,
      composition, extension or adjustment with its creditors, or the Borrower
      shall take any corporate action to authorize any of the foregoing; or

            (iii) The commencement of proceedings to liquidate or dissolve the
      Borrower; or

            (g) The Borrower shall fail to obtain a validly issued FAA Standard
      Airworthiness Certificate (Transport Category) for the Aircraft within
      eight (8) days after the Security Agreement is filed with the FAA for any
      reason within the control of the Borrower;

            (h) An "Event of Default" (as defined in any loan agreement referred
      to below in this Section 8.1(h)) shall have occurred and be continuing
      under any other loan agreement between the Lender and the Borrower
      pursuant to which the Lender has provided aircraft financing to the
      Borrower (but only so long as the initial Lender is the Lender); or

            (i) So long as the lien of the Security Agreement is in effect, the
      Lender shall no longer have a first priority security interest thereunder
      (subject to Permitted Liens) on all or any part of the Collateral subject
      thereto and such failure shall continue for ten (10) days after delivery
      of notice thereof by the Lender to the Borrower; or

                                       18
<Page>

            (j) the Borrower shall cease to be a Certificated Air Carrier; or

            (k) the Borrower shall receive a notice of default or exercise of
      remedies with respect to the payment or performance of any indebtedness or
      other obligation to any third party and any such default or exercise of
      remedies results in an acceleration of such indebtedness or obligations;
      provided that the aggregate amount of any such indebtedness or obligation
      is in excess of $500,000 (determined in the case of borrowed money by the
      amount outstanding under the agreement pursuant to which such borrowed
      money was borrowed, in the case of a deferred purchase price by the
      remaining balance and in the case of a lease by the present value of the
      remaining rent payable thereunder).

then, and in any such event, (A) if such event is an Event of Default specified
in paragraphs (e) or (f) of this Section 8.1, the Loan (with accrued interest
thereon) and all other amounts owing under this Agreement and the Note shall
immediately become due and payable, and (B) if such event is another Event of
Default, at any time while such Event of Default is continuing, the Lender may,
by written notice to the Borrower, declare the Loan (with accrued interest
thereon) and all other amounts owing under this Agreement and the Note to be due
and payable forthwith, whereupon the same shall immediately become due and
payable and the Lender may exercise the rights and remedies provided in the
Security Agreement and the other Borrower Loan Documents. Except as expressly
provided above in this Section 8.1, presentment, demand, protest and all other
notices of any kind with respect to an Event of Default are hereby expressly
waived.

                            SECTION 9. MISCELLANEOUS

            9.1 AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. This Agreement or any terms hereof may
only be amended, supplemented or modified with the prior written consent of the
Borrower and the Lender. The Lender may, from time to time, waive, on such terms
and conditions as the Lender may specify in such instrument, any of the
requirements of this Agreement or any Event of Default and its consequences. In
the case of any waiver the Borrower and the Lender shall be restored to their
former positions and rights hereunder, and any Event of Default waived shall be
deemed to be cured and not continuing; no such waiver shall extend to any
subsequent or other Event of Default or impair any right consequent on such
subsequent or other Event of Default. Any amendment or waiver effected in
accordance with this Section 9.1 shall be binding upon the Lender and any
subsequent Lender and the Borrower.

            9.2 NOTICES; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; JOINDER.

            (a) All notices, demands, instructions and other communications of
any kind required or permitted to be given to or made upon any Party pursuant
hereto or in respect of this Agreement shall be made in English, in writing, and
shall be personally delivered or sent by registered or certified mail, postage
prepaid, by facsimile device, or by overnight service or

                                       19
<Page>

prepaid courier service, and shall be deemed to be given for purposes hereof (A)
if delivered in person or by overnight service or prepaid courier service, on
the day that such writing is delivered, (B) if given by registered or certified
mail, on the date of receipt, or (C) if made by fax, upon receipt by the sender
of transmission confirmation (PROVIDED, that any such fax transmission shall be
confirmed by mailing a copy of such notice or transmission by registered mail).
Unless otherwise specified in a notice sent or delivered in accordance with the
foregoing provisions of this Section 9.2(a), notices, demands, instructions and
other communications in writing shall be given to or made upon the respective
Parties hereto at their respective addresses (or to their respective facsimile
numbers) as follows: (i) if to the Borrower or Lender, to the respective
addresses set forth in Section 9.2(e), or to such other address as any such
Party indicates by notice to the other Party; or (ii) if to any subsequent
Lender, addressed to such subsequent Lender at such address as such subsequent
Lender shall have furnished by notice to the parties hereto.

            (b) Each Party hereby irrevocably agrees that any legal suit, action
or proceeding brought by any other Party or any Indemnitee that is not a Party,
which arises out of or relates to the Borrower Loan Documents or any of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any document referred to herein
or therein, may be instituted in the United States District Court for the
Southern District of New York and the state courts of the State of New York
sitting in the City of New York, and without prejudice to any Party's right to
remove to the federal courts, appellate courts from any thereof (collectively,
the "STIPULATED COURTS"), and each Party hereby expressly submits itself to the
exclusive personal jurisdiction of such Stipulated Courts and waives any
objection that it may now or hereafter have to the personal jurisdiction or
venue of any action in any such Stipulated Court or that any such action was
brought in an inconvenient forum, and agrees not to plead or claim the same by
way of motion as a defense or otherwise. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES
TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING, CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM, WHETHER IN
CONTRACT OR TORT, AT LAW OR IN EQUITY, ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATED TO
THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER BORROWER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE ENFORCEMENT HEREOF OR
THEREOF.

            (c) INTENTIONALLY OMITTED

            (d) Each Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives
personal service of process and consents that service of process upon it may be
effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any
substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, at its address for notice
as determined in Section 9.2(e), or by personal service, and service so made
shall be deemed completed when such service is received at such address;
PROVIDED, that nothing herein shall affect the right to serve process in any
other manner permitted by Applicable Law.

            (e) Any such notice or communication to a party hereto shall be made
in English, in writing, by registered mail, fax, telex or cable, as permitted
under applicable law, and shall be given as follows:

                                       20
<Page>

                     Borrower:   Chautauqua Airlines, Inc.
                                 2500 S. High School Road
                                 Indianapolis, Indiana  46241

                     Attention: President
                     Tel: 317-484-6047
                     Fax: 317-484-6060

                     With a Copy to:

                     Wexford Capital LLC
                     411 West Putnam Avenue
                     Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
                     Attention: Jay Maymudes
                     Tel: 203-862-7050
                     Fax: 203-862-7350

Lender/Manufacturer  Embraer - Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A.
                     Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 2170
                     12227-901 Sao Jose dos Campos, SP
                     Brazil
                     Attention: Director - Contracts
                     Tel: (011) 5512-3927-1410
                     Fax: (011) 5512-3927-1257

            (f) Any party listed above may change its address and the
transmission numbers for notices by notice in the manner provided in this
Section 9.2.

            9.3 SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. All representations
and warranties made hereunder and in any document or certificate delivered
pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall survive the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the making of the Loan hereunder.

            9.4 LOAN ASSIGNMENTS AND TRANSFERS. The Lender may assign and
transfer its right, title and interest in the Loan, and the Note, including all
of its rights and obligations therein and in the Borrower Loan Documents in
whole or in part ("LOAN TRANSFEREES") or grant participations therein to ("LOAN
PARTICIPANTS") in private nonpublic placements pursuant to Section 4(2) of the
United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or Rule 144A ("Rule 144A")
thereunder or similar laws or regulations, and the Borrower shall cooperate
reasonably and in good faith in accordance with the following provisions in
assisting the Lender in effecting such assignment, transfer or grant, PROVIDED
that the Borrower shall have no greater obligation or liability (including any
increased payment pursuant to Section 2.6) to any transferee than it would have
had to the initial Lender or as a result of any grant of a participation. The
Borrower hereby waives any right of set-off it may have against such entity with
respect to claims against the

                                       21
<Page>

Lender, the Manufacturer and other third parties. A Loan Transferee may create a
perfected lien on the Loan Agreement and the other documents to secure the
indebtedness of the Loan Transferee to its lenders. The Borrower agrees to name
the Loan Transferee as loss payee on hull insurance and as an additional insured
on liability insurance and as an indemnitee with respect to indemnifications
contained in the relevant Borrower Loan Documents. The Parties agree that each
Loan Transferee, upon any such assignment and transfer, shall be and have all
beneficial rights of Lender to the extent of the interest so assigned and
transferred and shall to such extent accede to all rights of Lender under all
the Borrower Loan Documents upon execution and delivery to the Borrower of a
lender transfer notice, and that no consent, approval or other notice of or to
any party to the Borrower Loan Documents is necessary in connection therewith.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower authorizes Lender
to disclose to any actual or prospective Loan Transferee or Loan Participant any
and all financial information in Lender's possession concerning the Borrower,
which has been delivered to Lender pursuant to the Borrower Loan Documents or in
connection with Lender's credit evaluation of the Borrower prior to entering
into the Borrower Loan Documents.

            This Loan Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit
of the Borrower, Lender and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
Except as otherwise expressly permitted or required by the provisions of the
Borrower Loan Documents, the Borrower may not assign any of its rights or
obligations hereunder or under any Borrower Loan Document without the prior
written consent of Lender.

            9.5 CONTRACTUAL CURRENCY. (a) All payments of the unpaid balance of
the Loan and interest thereon and any other amount payable hereunder or under
any other Loan Document shall be paid in Dollars.

            (b) If any expense required to be reimbursed pursuant to this Loan
Agreement or any other Borrower Loan Documents is originally incurred in a
currency other than Dollars, the Borrower shall nonetheless make reimbursement
of that expense in Dollars, in an amount equal to the amount in Dollars that
would have been required for the person that incurred that expense to have
purchased, in accordance with normal banking procedures, the sum paid in such
other currency (after any premium and costs of exchange) on the date of payment
of such expenses.

            9.6 SEVERABILITY. Any provision of this Loan Agreement which is
prohibited or unenforceable shall be ineffective to the extent of such
prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions
hereof.

            9.7 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. The Borrower Loan Documents embody the entire
agreement and understanding between Lender and the Borrower and supersede all
prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter thereof.

            9.8 GOVERNING LAW.

                                       22
<Page>

            THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES TO THE LOAN DOCUMENTS
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. All obligations of the Borrower and the
rights of Lender and any holder of any Note shall be in addition to, and not in
limitation of, those provided by Applicable Law.

            9.9 WAIVER OF IMMUNITIES. The Lender agrees that, to the extent that
the Lender or any of its property is or becomes entitled at any time to any
immunity on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise from (a) any legal action,
suit, arbitration proceeding or other proceeding, (b) set-off or counterclaim,
(c) the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction, (d) service of
process, (e) relief by way of injunction, order for specific performance or for
recovery of property, (f) attachment of its assets prior to judgment or after
judgment, (g) attachment in aid of execution or levy, (h) execution or
enforcement of any decree or judgment, (i) judgment or jurisdiction or from any
other legal process in any jurisdiction, the Lender, for itself and its
property, does, to the full extent permitted by Applicable Law, rule or
regulation, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waive all rights to, and
agrees not to plead or claim, any such immunity with respect to its obligations,
liabilities or any other matter under or arising out of or in connection with
this Agreement or the other Borrower Loan Documents, or the subject matter
hereof or thereof. Such agreement shall be irrevocable and not subject to
withdrawal in any and all jurisdictions or under any statute, including the
Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976 of the United States of America. The
foregoing waiver shall constitute a present waiver of immunity at any time any
action is initiated against the Lender with respect to this Agreement.

            9.10 CONFIDENTIALITY. Each of the Borrower and Lender hereby assumes
the obligation to maintain in total and absolute confidentiality the terms and
conditions of the Borrower Loan Documents not required by the terms of any of
the Borrower Loan Documents to be filed or recorded in the public record and
shall not disclose or reproduce the same by any means or for any purpose, except
as follows: (1) as otherwise required or contemplated by the Borrower Loan
Documents, (2) to its accountants, lawyers and financial and other professional
advisors, (3) to its employees, its Affiliates and their employees, and to each
other party to the Borrower Loan Documents, (4) as required by force of law, (5)
as required by judicial or administrative decision of a Governmental Authority,
(6) for the purpose of effecting any transfer or participation permitted
pursuant to Section 9.4 hereof, PROVIDED that in case of a disclosure referred
to in Clauses (4) and (5) above, the party requiring disclosure shall use its
reasonable best efforts to limit the extent of such disclosure to the extent
permitted by law.

            9.11 EXPENSES OF LENDER AND TRANSACTION EXPENSES.

            Except as otherwise provided herein, the Borrower agrees (a) to pay
or reimburse the Lender for all its reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses
incurred in connection with the preparation and execution of this Agreement and
the other Borrower Loan Documents, and any amendment, supplement or modification
provided for in this Agreement or any other Borrower

                                       23
<Page>

Loan Document, or requested by the Borrower to, this Agreement and the other
Borrower Loan Documents and any other documents prepared in connection herewith
or therewith, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel to the Lender and (b) to pay, indemnify, and hold the Lender harmless
from, any and all United States recording and filing fees and any and all
liabilities with respect to, or resulting from any delay in paying such United
States recording and filing fees, if any, which may be payable or determined to
be payable in connection with the execution and delivery of, or consummation of
any of the transactions contemplated by, or any amendment, supplement or
modification of, or any waiver or consent under or in respect of, this
Agreement, the other Borrower Loan Documents and any such other documents
relating thereto.

            9.12 GENERAL INDEMNITY. (a) The Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify
on an After-Tax Basis each Indemnitee against, and agrees to protect, save and
hold harmless each of them from any and all Expenses imposed on, incurred by or
asserted against any Indemnitee, in any way relating to or arising out of or
which would not have occurred but for (1) the Borrower Loan Documents and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby or any Default or Event of
Default thereunder and the enforcement of any of the terms thereof; (2) the
Aircraft (or any item or other portion thereof) or any engine installed on the
Airframe or any airframe on which an Engine is installed, whether or not arising
out of the manufacture, design, ordering, acceptance, rejection, acquisition,
installation, purchase, registration, re-registration, refinancing, financing,
ownership, delivery, nondelivery, lease, sublease, possession, use or non-use,
operation, storage, maintenance, modification, alteration, condition,
replacement, repair, loss, damage, destruction, removal, substitution, sale,
return, surrender or other disposition of the Aircraft (or any item or other
portion thereof) including, without limitation, latent or other defects, whether
or not discoverable, strict products liability, strict tort liability and any
claim for patent, trademark or copyright infringement, environmental liability
or any violation of an Applicable Law relating to the Aircraft; PROVIDED that
the foregoing indemnity of an Indemnitee shall only apply for claims relating to
Lender in its capacity as lender under the Borrower Loan Documents and not to
Lender in its capacity, if any, as manufacturer, repairer, supplier or aircraft
servicing agent, or any Expense to the extent resulting from or arising out of
or which would not have occurred but for one or more of the following: (A) any
express representation or warranty by such Indemnitee in the Borrower Loan
Documents being incorrect; or (B) the failure by such Indemnitee to perform or
observe any express agreement, covenant or condition in any of the Borrower Loan
Documents except to the extent such failure by such Indemnitee proximately
results from any failure by the Borrower to observe any covenant, agreement or
condition applicable to the Borrower in any Borrower Loan Document; or (C) the
willful misconduct or the gross negligence of or violation of law by such
Indemnitee (other than any of the foregoing imputed to such Indemnitee solely by
reason of its interest in the Aircraft or being party to the Borrower Loan
Documents); or (D) a disposition (voluntary or involuntary) of all or any part
of its interest in any Note (other than as contemplated by the Security
Agreement) or in any of the Borrower Loan Documents other than, in each case,
during the continuance of a Specified Default or an Event of Default under this
Loan Agreement or (E) any Tax, or any loss of Tax benefits or increase in Tax
liability under any Tax law, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this CLAUSE (E)

                                       24
<Page>

shall not apply to any obligation of the Borrower under Section 2.b or to Taxes
arising from making any payment pursuant to this SECTION 9.12 on an After-Tax
Basis; or (F) the authorization or giving or withholding of any future
amendments, supplements, waivers or consents with respect to any of the Borrower
Loan Documents which amendments, supplements, waivers or consents (x) are not or
were not requested by the Borrower, (y) are not occasioned by a specific
requirement of the Borrower Loan Documents and (z) are not entered into pursuant
to a Default or an Event of Default; or (H) except to the extent resulting from
a breach of the Borrower representations contained in SECTION 3.2, the offer,
sale or delivery by such Indemnitee in violation of the Securities Act or a
violation by such Indemnitee of any other applicable law or regulation relating
to the transfer of any Note, or (I) except to the extent caused by acts or
events occurring prior thereto, acts or events which occur after the earlier of:
(x) the payment by the Borrower of all amounts required to be paid under the
Borrower Loan Documents following a Total Loss and termination of the Loan; or
(y) termination of the Loan and payment by the Borrower of all amounts required
to be paid by Borrower pursuant to the terms of the Borrower Loan Documents; or
(J) attributable to a Lender Lien.

            (b) If a claim is made against an Indemnitee involving one or more
Expenses and such Indemnitee has notice thereof, such Indemnitee shall promptly
after receiving such notice give notice of such claim to the Borrower; provided,
that the failure to provide such notice shall not diminish any of the Borrower's
obligations to indemnify hereunder except to the extent the Borrower's right to
contest the imposition of such Expense shall be prejudiced or to the extent such
failure otherwise adversely affects the Borrower. The Borrower shall be
entitled, at its cost and expense (and acting through counsel reasonably
acceptable to the respective Indemnitee) (1) in any judicial or administrative
proceeding that involves solely a claim for one or more Expenses, to assume
responsibility for and control thereof, (2) in any judicial or administrative
proceeding involving a claim for one or more Expenses and other claims related
or unrelated to the transactions contemplated by the Borrower Loan Documents, to
assume responsibility for and control of such claim for Expenses to the extent
that the same may be and is severed from such other claims (and such Indemnitee
shall use its best efforts to obtain such severance), and (3) in any other case,
to be consulted by such Indemnitee with respect to judicial proceedings subject
to the control of such Indemnitee and to be allowed, at the Borrower's sole
expense, to participate therein. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing to the
contrary, the Borrower shall not be entitled to assume responsibility for and
control of any such judicial or administrative proceedings if (A) any Specified
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (B) such
proceedings will involve a material risk of the sale, forfeiture or loss of, or
the creation of any Lien (other than a Lien permitted under the Borrower Loan
Documents) on, the Aircraft or any material part thereof unless in such an event
the Borrower shall have posted a bond or other security reasonably satisfactory
to the relevant Indemnitees in respect to such risk or (C) such proceedings are
reasonably likely to involve the imposition of criminal liability, or material
civil penalty for which such Indemnitee is not indemnified hereunder, on an
Indemnitee; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, no such proceeding shall be compromised or
settled on a basis that admits gross negligence or misconduct on the part of
such Indemnitee without such Indemnitee's prior written consent. The Indemnitee
may participate at its own expense and with its own counsel in any

                                       25
<Page>

judicial proceeding controlled by the Borrower pursuant to the preceding
provisions so long as such participation shall not materially interfere with the
Borrower's conduct or the defense of any such proceeding.

            (c) The Indemnitee shall cooperate in good faith with the Borrower
and, at the Borrower's expense, shall supply the Borrower with such information
reasonably requested by the Borrower as is necessary or advisable for the
Borrower to control or participate in any proceeding to the extent permitted by
this SECTION 9.12. Such Indemnitee shall not (unless such Indemnitee waives its
right to be indemnified with respect to such Expense under this SECTION 9.12)
enter into a settlement or other compromise with respect to any Expense without
the prior written consent of the Borrower (except during the continuance of an
Event of Default when such consent shall not be required if the Indemnitee has
given the Borrower at least 15 days prior written notice of the nature and scope
of the proposed settlement or compromise), which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

            (d) The Borrower shall supply the Indemnitee with such information
(which may, in the case of confidential or proprietary information be supplied
subject to a reasonable confidentiality requirement) reasonably requested by the
Indemnitee as is necessary or advisable for the Indemnitee to control or
participate in any proceeding to the extent permitted by this SECTION 9.12.

            (e) So long as no Specified Default or Event of Default under this
Loan Agreement shall have occurred and be continuing, upon payment of any
Expense pursuant to this SECTION 9.12, the Borrower, without any further action,
shall be subrogated to, and may pursue, any claims the Indemnitee may have
relating thereto other than claims against any Brazilian government entity. Each
Indemnitee hereby agrees to give, at the Borrower's expense, such further
assurances or agreements and to cooperate with the Borrower to permit the
Borrower to pursue such claims, if any, to the extent reasonably requested by
the Borrower.

            (f) The Borrower's obligations under the indemnities provided for in
this Agreement shall be those of a primary obligor, whether or not the Person
indemnified shall also be indemnified with respect to the same matter under the
terms of any other document or instrument, and the Person seeking
indemnification from the Borrower pursuant to any provision of this Agreement
may proceed directly against the Borrower without first seeking to enforce any
other right of indemnification.

            (g) To the extent permitted by applicable law, interest at the Debt
Rate plus the Default Rate shall be paid, on demand, on any amount or indemnity
not paid when due pursuant to this SECTION 9.12 until the same shall be paid.
Such interest shall be paid in the same manner as the unpaid amount in respect
of which such interest is due.

                                       26
<Page>

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed and delivered by their proper and duly authorized officers as
of the day and year first above written.

                                        CHAUTAUQUA AIRLINES, INC.

                                        By:_____________________________________
                                           Name:
                                           Title:

                                        EMBRAER-EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE
                                           AERONAUTICA S.A.

                                        By:_____________________________________
                                           Name:
                                           Title:

                                        By:_____________________________________
                                           Name:
                                           Title:

WITNESS:

                                       27
<Page>

                                                                      Schedule 1
                                                               TO LOAN AGREEMENT

<Table>
<Caption>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         AMORTIZATION SCHEDULE (N375SK)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  DATE             DEBT SERVICE         INTEREST     PRINCIPAL            ENDING
                                                                          BALANCE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                 <C>                <C>           <C>              <C>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20-Feb-02                                                             14,297,288.76
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20-Mar-02           127,907.31         86,236.25     41,671.06        14,255,617.70
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20-Apr-02           127,907.31         85,975.80     41,931.50        14,213,686.20
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20-May-02           127,907.31         85,713.73     42,193.58        14,171,492.62
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20-Jun-02           127,907.31         85,450.02     42,457.29        14,129,035.33
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20-Jul-02           127,907.31         85,184.66     42,722.64        14,086,312.69
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20-Aug-02           127,907.31         84,917.65     42,989.66        14,043,323.03
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</Table>

                                       28
<Page>

                                                                      Schedule 2
                                                               TO LOAN AGREEMENT

                             CERTAIN FINANCIAL TERMS

"COMMITMENT" means an amount equal to ninety percent (90%) of the Total Invoice
Cost.

"DEBT RATE" means an annual rate of seven point five percent (7.5%)

"DEFAULT RATE" means the Debt Rate plus two percent (2.0%).

"MATURITY DATE" means August __, 2002.

"TOTAL INVOICE COST" means $15,885,876.40.

                                       29
<Page>

                                                                         ANNEX A
                                                               TO LOAN AGREEMENT
                                                       AND TO SECURITY AGREEMENT

                                FINANCING OF ONE
                    EMBRAER EMB-145 MODEL EMB-135 KL AIRCRAFT

                     DEFINITIONS RELATING TO LOAN AGREEMENT
                             AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

            "AFFILIATE" means with respect to a specified Person, any other
Person directly or indirectly Controlling or Controlled by or under direct or
indirect common Control with such Person.

            "AIRCRAFT" means the Airframe, the Engines and the Parts.

            "AIRFRAME" means (i) the Embraer EMB-145 model EMB-135 KL aircraft
having United States registration number N375SK and Manufacturer's serial number
145569 (except Engines and engines installed thereon) and (ii) and any and all
Parts so long as the same shall be incorporated or installed in or attached to
the Airframe, or so long as Lender's security interest shall remain vested in
Lender in accordance with the terms of the Security Agreement after removal from
the Aircraft.

            "AFTER-TAX BASIS" means, with respect to any payment to be received
or accrued by any Person, the amount of such payment supplemented, if necessary,
by a further payment or payments so that the sum of all such payments, after
deduction of all Taxes actually payable to any taxing authority as a result of
the receipt or accrual of such payments shall be equal to the payment to be
received or accrued, after taking into account any Tax savings realized as a
result of the indemnified liability.

            "APPLICABLE LAW" means all applicable laws, treaties, judgments,
decrees, injunctions, writs and orders of any Governmental Authority having
jurisdiction over the applicable party hereto and rules, regulations, orders,
directives, licenses and permits of any Governmental Authority having
jurisdiction over the applicable party hereto and all interpretations,
implementation and enforcement of any of the foregoing by any Governmental
Authority, in each case having the force of law.

            "BILLS OF SALE" means the FAA Bill of Sale and the Warranty Bill of
Sale.

            "BORROWER" has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

                                       30
<Page>

            "BORROWER LOAN DOCUMENTS" means the Loan Agreement, the Note, the
Security Agreement, each Security Agreement Supplement, and any other agreement
or instrument specifically agreed by the Parties hereto to be identified as a
"Borrower Loan Document" for purposes hereof.

            "BORROWING DATE" means the Delivery Date.

            "BRAZIL" means the Federative Republic of Brazil.

            "BUSINESS DAY" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day
on which commercial banks are authorized or required by law, regulation or
executive order to be closed in New York, New York, or Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

            "CERTIFICATED AIR CARRIER" means a Citizen of the United States
holding an air carrier operating certificate issued under Chapter 447 of the
Transportation Code for aircraft capable of carrying ten or more individuals or
6,000 pounds or more of cargo, or if such certification shall cease to be
available, an air carrier eligible for certification as to the matters
contemplated by such certification.

            "CHANGE IN U.S. TAX LAW" means (a) any change after the Borrowing
Date to the Code, the Regulations or administrative guidance or (b) any formal
or informal change in any Internal Revenue Service position with respect to, or
interpretation of, U.S. Tax Law, regardless of how and when such change is
advanced, announced or articulated.

            "CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES" has the meaning set forth in Section
40102(a)(15) of the Transportation Code.

            "CLOSING" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 of the Loan
Agreement.

            "CODE" means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended from time to time.

            "COLLATERAL" has the meaning specified in Section 2.1 of the
Security Agreement.

            "COLLATERAL DOCUMENTS" means all items of Collateral that are
agreements, instruments or other documents.

            "COMMITMENT" has the meaning set forth in Schedule 2 to the Loan
Agreement.

            "DEBT RATE" has the meaning set forth on Schedule 2 to the Loan
Agreement

            "DEFAULT" means an event that, with the giving of notice or the
lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default.

                                       31
<Page>

            "DEFAULT RATE" has the meaning set forth in Schedule 2 to the Loan
Agreement.

            "DELIVERY DATE" or "DATE OF ACTUAL DELIVERY" means the date on which
the Aircraft shall be delivered by the Manufacturer to the Borrower, which date
shall be the date of the Warranty Bill of Sale.

            "DOLLARS" and "$" mean the lawful currency of the United States.

            "ELIGIBLE ACCOUNT" means an account established by and with an
Eligible Institution at the request of the Lender, which institution agrees, for
all purposes of the UCC including Article 8 thereof, that (a) such account shall
be a "securities account" (as defined in Section 8-501 of the UCC), (b) all
property (other than cash) credited to such account shall be treated as a
"financial asset") (as defined in Section 8-102(9) of the UCC), (c) the Lender
shall be the "entitlement holder" (as defined in Section 8-102(7) of the UCC) in
respect of such account, (d) it will comply with all entitlement orders issued
by the Lender to the exclusion of the Borrower, and (e) the "securities
intermediary jurisdiction" (under Section 8-110(e) of the UCC) shall be the
State of New York.

            "ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION" means the corporate trust department of a
depository institution organized under the laws of the United States of America
or any one of the states thereof or the District of Columbia (or any U.S. Branch
of a foreign bank), which has a long-term unsecured debt rating from Moody's and
Standard & Poor's of at least A-3 or its equivalent.

            "ENGINE" means (i) unless and until replaced by a Replacement Engine
pursuant to the Security Agreement each of the two Rolls-Royce AE3007A1/3
engines, having the manufacturer's serial numbers set forth in the initial
Security Agreement Supplement, whether or not from time to time installed on the
Airframe or installed on any other airframe or any other aircraft, or (ii) any
Replacement Engine substituted for an Engine under the Security Agreement,
together in each case with any and all Parts incorporated or installed in or
attached thereto and any and all Parts removed therefrom so long Lender's
Security interest therein shall remain vested in Lessor in accordance with the
terms of the Security Agreement after removal from such Engine.

            "EQUIPMENT" means the Aircraft, the Airframe, any Engine and/or any
Part

            "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended.

            "EXCLUDED TAXES" means (i) Taxes imposed by a jurisdiction within
which Lender is incorporated or maintains its principal place of business and
(ii) Taxes that would not have been imposed but for a connection between the
Lender and the taxing jurisdiction other than the transactions contemplated
hereby, and (iii) Taxes that would not have been imposed but for

                                       32
<Page>

Lender's, Loan Transferee's or Loan Participant's failure to provide Borrower
with any certification in accordance with Section 2.6 of the Loan Agreement.

            "EVENT OF DEFAULT" means any of the events set forth in Section 8.1
of the Loan Agreement.

            "EXPENSES" means any and all liabilities, obligations, losses,
damages, settlements, penalties, claims (including, but not limited to,
negligence, strict or absolute liability, liability in tort and liabilities
arising out of violation of laws or regulatory requirements of any kind),
actions, suits, out-of-pocket costs, expenses and disbursements (including
reasonable legal fees, costs of investigation of whatsoever kind and nature and
expenses, and out-of-pocket costs and expenses relating to enforcement of, and
reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses relating to amendments, supplements,
waivers and consents to and under the Borrower Loan Documents.

            "FAA" means the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and any agency
or instrumentality of the U.S. Government succeeding to its functions.

            "FAA APPLICATION FOR AIRCRAFT REGISTRATION" means an application for
registration of the Aircraft in the name of the Borrower on AC Form 8050-1 or
such other form approved by the FAA.

            "FAA BILL OF SALE" means the bill of sale for the Aircraft on AC
Form 8050-2 or such other form approved by the FAA, dated the Delivery Date,
executed by the Manufacturer in favor of the Borrower.

            "FAA COUNSEL" means Daugherty, Fowler, Peregrin & Haught, or other
FAA counsel in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, acceptable to all Parties.

            "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States.

            "GOVERNMENT" means the government of the United States and any
instrumentality or agency thereof.

            "GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY" means any nation or government, any state
or other political subdivision thereof, any central bank (or similar monetary or
regulatory authority) thereof and entity exercising executive, legislative,
judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government.

            "IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE FUNDS" means funds with good value on the day
and in the city in which payment is received.

            "INDEMNIFIED TAXES" means any Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

                                       33
<Page>

            "Indemnitee" means Lender and its officers, directors, employees,
agents, servants, successors and permitted assigns of any of the foregoing
Persons.

            "IRS" means the United States Internal Revenue Service or any agency
or instrumentality of the U.S. Government succeeding to its functions.

            "LENDER" has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of
the Loan Agreement.

            "LENDER LIEN" means any Lien attributable to the Lender on or
against the Aircraft, any interest therein, or any other portion of the
Collateral, arising out of any claim against the Lender that is not related to
the Borrower Loan Documents or out of any act or omission of the Lender that is
not related to the transactions contemplated by the Borrower Loan Documents or
that constitutes a breach by it of its obligations under the Borrower Loan
Documents; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any Lien which is attributable solely to
Lender and would otherwise constitute a Lender Lien hereunder shall not, for the
purpose of any warranty or representation of Lender against the existence of the
same or for any covenant or obligation not to allow the same or to immediately
cause the removal of the same, constitute, for such purposes only, a Lender Lien
hereunder so long as (a) the existence of such Lien poses no material risk of
the sale, forfeiture or loss of the airframe or any Engine or any interest
therein, (b) the existence of such Lien does not interfere in any way with the
use or operation of the Aircraft by Borrower, (c) Lender is in good faith
diligently contesting such Lien by appropriate proceeding and (d), in the case
of any Lender Lien on any Engine, Borrower shall not have replaced such Engine
with a Replacement Engine pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Security
Agreement.

            "LIEN" means any mortgage, lease, security interest, lien, title
retention arrangement or other claim or encumbrance.

            "LOAN" means the loan in the amount of the Commitment, made by the
Lender pursuant to the proceeds of which are to be used for the purchase of the
Aircraft by the Borrower, such Loan to be evidenced by the Loan Agreement and
the Note.

            "LOAN AGREEMENT" means the Loan Agreement (N375SK), dated as of
February 20, 2002 between the Borrower and the Lender.

            "MANUFACTURER" means Embraer - Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica
S.A., and its successors and permitted assigns.

            "MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE" means a material adverse change since the
date of the last audited financial statements of the Borrower in the business,
operations or financial condition of the Borrower, which change has a material
adverse impact on the Borrower's ability to perform any of its obligations under
the Borrower Loan Documents to which it is a party. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, a material adverse change shall have occurred

                                       34
<Page>

within the meaning of the immediately preceding sentence if any of the following
shall occur: (i) a material financial or material non-financial default of the
Borrower in any obligation owed to Lender, (ii) any event described in Section
8.1(e) or (f) of the Loan Agreement, (iii) the termination of any of the
Borrower's existing code-sharing agreements with US Airways, Inc., America West
Airlines, Inc., or American Airlines, Inc. (or, as applicable, with any
affiliate of such companies) and the non-replacement of such agreements by
code-sharing or other revenue generating arrangements of substantially
equivalent value within a period of one (1) month after such termination, or
(iv) the material and adverse grounding of all or a substantial portion of
Borrower's fleet of aircraft or the imposition of operating restrictions on
Borrower by any order or administrative action by the FAA or any other aviation
authority, and such order or administrative action is not applicable to regional
air carriers generally; and notwithstanding the specificity of the foregoing
clauses (i) to (iv), the first sentence of this paragraph shall be interpreted
non-exclusively in accordance with normal commercial practices.

            "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" means (a) a material adverse change in, or
a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties or
financial condition of the Borrower or the Borrower and its Affiliates taken as
a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Borrower to perform its
obligations under any Borrower Loan Document; or (c) a material adverse effect
upon (i) the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against the
Borrower of any Borrower Loan Document to which it is a party or (ii) the
protections afforded Lender under Section 1110 of the United States Bankruptcy
Code (other than a change in United States law which would make such benefits
unavailable to aircraft leases or secured loans generally under United States
law).

            "MATURITY DATE" has the meaning provided in Schedule 2 to the Loan
Agreement.

            "MOODY'S" means Moody's Investor Service, Inc.

            "NOTE" means the Note, dated the Borrowing Date, in the amount of
the Commitment and executed by the Borrower in favor of the Lender pursuant to
Section 2.2 of the Loan Agreement.

            "PARTS" means all parts, appliances, components, instruments,
accessories and furnishings (other than complete engines) which are from time to
time be installed in or attached to the Airframe or to any Engine.

            "PARTY" means each party to the Loan Agreement.

            "PAYMENT DATE" has the meaning provided in Section 2.2(a) of the
Loan Agreement.

            "PERMITTED INVESTMENTS" means the following securities (which shall
mature within 90 days of the date of purchase thereof): (a) direct obligations
of the U.S. Government; (b) obligations fully guaranteed by the U.S. Government;
(c) certificates of deposit issued by, or

                                       35
<Page>

bankers' acceptances of, or time deposits or a deposit account with any bank,
trust company or national banking association incorporated or doing business
under the laws of the United States or any state thereof having a combined
capital and surplus and retained earnings of at least $500,000,000 and having a
rate of "C" or better from the Thomson BankWatch Service; (d) commercial paper
of any issuer doing business under the Laws of the United States or one of the
states thereof and in each case having a rating assigned to such commercial
paper by Standard & Poor's Rating Services or Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
equal to A1 or higher or (e) shares in money market mutual or similar funds
which invest substantially in assets satisfying the requirements of clauses (a)
through (d) of this definition.

            "PERSON" means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust,
trustee(s) of a trust, unincorporated organization or Governmental Authority.

            "PURCHASE AGREEMENT" means that Purchase Agreement No. GCT-025/98
dated June 17, 1998 (together with all amendments and supplements thereto),
between Solitair Corporation and Manufacturer relating to certain Embraer
EMB-145 aircraft, including the Aircraft.

            "REPLACEMENT ENGINE" means a Rolls-Royce AE3007A1/3 engine or an
improved model having a value, utility, condition and remaining useful life at
least equal to the replaced Engine (assuming that such Engine was in the
condition required by the Security Agreement), and being suitable for
installation and use on the Airframe that is substituted for an Engine pursuant
to Section 3.3 of the Security Agreement.

            "RESPONSIBLE OFFICER" means, with respect to any corporation, its
Chairman of the Board, its President, any Senior Vice President, the Chief
Financial Officer, any Vice President or the Treasurer, or any other management
employee (a) whose power to take the action in question has been authorized,
directly or indirectly, by the Board of Directors of such corporation, (B)
working under the supervision of such Chairman of the Board, President, Senior
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Vice President or Treasurer and (C)
whose responsibilities include the administration of the transactions and
agreements contemplated by the Loan Agreement and the Security Agreement.

            "SECTION 1110" means Section 1110 of the United States Bankruptcy
Code, or any successor or replacement provision of the United States Bankruptcy
Code.

            "SECURITY AGREEMENT" means the Security Agreement, dated as of the
date of the Loan Agreement, between the Borrower and the Lender, including all
annexes, schedules, exhibits, appendices and supplements thereto.

            "SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT" means (A) the Security Agreement
Supplement No. 1, substantially in the form of Exhibit A to the Security
Agreement, dated the Borrowing Date, which shall describe with particularity the
Airframe and the Engines and which creates a

                                       36
<Page>

security interest in the Airframe and Engines and (B) any other supplement to
the Security Agreement from time to time executed and delivered by the Borrower
pursuant to the Security Agreement.

            "SPECIFIED DEFAULT" means (a) an event or condition described in
Section 3.3.1(a), (e) or (f) that, after the giving of notice or lapse of time,
or both, would become an Event of Default, or (b) any Event of Default.

            "SUBSIDIARY" means, as to any Person, a corporation, partnership or
other entity of which shares of stock or other ownership interests having
ordinary voting power (other than stock or such other ownership interests having
such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority
of the board of directors or other managers of such corporation, partnership or
other entity are at the time owned, or the management of which is otherwise
controlled, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both,
by such Person.

            "TAX" and "TAXES" mean any and all fees and taxes imposed or
asserted by any Governmental Authority, including income, gross receipts, sales,
rents, use, turnover, value added, property, excise and stamp taxes, license,
levies, imposts, duties, recording charges or fees, charges, assessments or
withholding of any nature whatsoever, together with any assessments, penalties,
fines, additions to tax and interest thereon.

            "TERM" means the period between the Borrowing Date and the Maturity
Date.

            "TOTAL INVOICE COST" has the meaning provided on Schedule 2 to the
Loan Agreement.

            "TOTAL LOSS" of an Item means the occurrence of any of the
following:

            (i) any theft, hijacking or disappearance of such property for a
      period of 60 consecutive days or more or, if earlier for a period that
      extends until the end of the Term;

            (ii) destruction, damage beyond economic repair or rendition of such
      property permanently unfit for normal use for any reason whatsoever;

            (iii) any event which results in an insurance settlement with
      respect to such property on the basis of an actual, constructive or
      compromised total loss;

            (iv) condemnation, confiscation or seizure of, or requisition of
      title to or use of such property by any foreign government or purported
      government (or in the case of any such requisition of title, by the
      Government) or any agency or instrumentality thereof, for a period in
      excess of (A) in the case of any requisition of use, 30 consecutive days
      or (B) in the case of any condemnation, confiscation or seizure of, or
      requisition of title, 10 consecutive days, or, in any of the cases in this
      clause (iv), such shorter period ending on the expiration of the Term;

                                       37
<Page>

            (v) condemnation, confiscation or seizure of, or requisition of use
      of such property by the Government for a period extending beyond the Term;

            (vi) as a result of any law, rule, regulation, order or other action
      by the FAA, the use of the Aircraft or Airframe in the normal course of
      air transportation shall have been prohibited by virtue of a condition
      affecting all Embraer EMB-145 model EMB-135 KL aircraft equipped with
      engines of the same make and model as the Engines for a period of 120
      consecutive days (or beyond the end of the Term), unless the Borrower,
      prior to the expiration of such 120-day period, shall be diligently
      carrying forward all necessary and desirable steps to permit normal use of
      the Aircraft and shall within 3 months have conformed at least one Embraer
      EMB-145 model EMB-135 KL aircraft (but not necessarily the Aircraft) to
      the requirements of any such law, rule, regulation, order or action, and
      shall be diligently pursuing conformance of the Aircraft in a
      non-discriminatory manner provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, if
      such normal use of such property subject to the Lease shall be prohibited
      at the end of the Term, or if such normal use of such property shall be
      prohibited for a period of six (6) consecutive months, a Total Loss shall
      be deemed to have occurred; and

            (vii) with respect to an Engine only, the requisition or taking of
      use thereof by any government, and any divestiture of title or ownership
      deemed to be a Total Loss with respect to an Engine under Section 3.3(b)
      of the Security Agreement.

            The date of such Total Loss shall be (aa) the 31st day following
loss of such property or its use due to theft or disappearance or the 91st day
following such loss if such period shall have been extended (or the end of the
Term if earlier); (bb) the date of any destruction, damage beyond economic
repair or rendition of such property permanently unfit for normal use; (cc) the
date of any insurance settlement on the basis of an actual, constructive or
compromised total loss; (dd) the 31st day following condemnation, confiscation,
seizure or requisition of title to such property by a foreign government
referred to in clause (iv) above (or the 11th day in the case of appropriation
of title), or the end of the Term if earlier than such 31st or 11th day; (ee)
the last day of the Term in the case of requisition of title to or use of such
property by the Government; and (ff) the last day of the applicable period
referred to in clause (vi) above (or if earlier, the end of the Term without the
Borrower's having conformed at least one Embraer EMB-145 model EMB-135 KL
aircraft to the applicable requirements). A Total Loss with respect to the
Aircraft shall be deemed to have occurred if any Total Loss occurs with respect
to the Airframe.

            "TRANSPORTATION CODE" means 49 U.S.C. subtitle VII, as amended, and
any successor statute thereto.

            "UNITED STATES" and "U.S." each means the United States of America.

                                       38
<Page>

            "UNITED STATES PERSON" shall have the meaning given such term in
Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

            "U.S. TAX LAW" includes the Code, any regulations promulgated or
proposed thereunder (the "Regulations") and any private letter rulings as of
November 30, 2001 (as though such rulings have the force of law), in each case.

            "WARRANTY BILL OF SALE" means the full warranty bill of sale
covering the Aircraft (together with the FAA Bill of Sale collectively called
"Bills of Sale"), executed by the Manufacturer in favor of the Borrower, dated
the Delivery Date, and specifically referring to each Engine, as well as to the
Airframe, constituting a part of the Aircraft.

                                       39
<Page>

                                                                         ANNEX B
                                                               TO LOAN AGREEMENT

          THIS PROMISSORY NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED PURSUANT TO THE
     SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR PURSUANT TO THE SECURITIES LAWS
        OF ANY STATE. ACCORDINGLY, THIS PROMISSORY NOTE MAY NOT BE SOLD,
       UNLESS EITHER REGISTERED UNDER SUCH ACT AND SUCH APPLICABLE STATE
        LAWS OR UNLESS AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE.

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE

          Relating to One (1) Embraer EMB-145 model EMB-135 KL Aircraft
                          U.S. Registration No. N375SK
                       Manufacturer's Serial Number 145569

$ ______________                                              ________ ___, 2001

      Chautauqua Airlines, Inc., a New York, U.S.A. corporation ("BORROWER"),
for value received, hereby promises to pay to Embraer - Empresa Brasileira de
Aeronautica S.A., a Brazilian corporation, or its registered assigns ("LENDER"),
at Caixa Postal 343, CEP 12227-901, Sao Jose dos Campos, Sao Paulo, Brazil (or
at such other location as Lender may from time to time designate in writing to
Borrower), the principal sum of ________________ dollars (US $ ______________ )
(the " LOAN"), or such other amount as shall equal the aggregate unpaid
principal amount of the Loan made by Lender to Borrower under that certain Loan
Agreement dated as of ________ ___, 2001 (as at any time hereafter amended, the
"LOAN AGREEMENT"), by and among Borrower and Lender, in lawful money of the
United States of America and Immediately Available Funds.

      The Borrower shall make scheduled principal payments on the Loan in
monthly installments in the amounts and on the dates identified on Schedule 1
hereto (each such date, a "Payment Date"). On each Payment Date, the Borrower
shall pay interest accrued in respect of the unpaid principal amount of the Loan
from the date the proceeds made thereof are made available to the Borrower until
such date, at the Debt Rate. The expected amounts of such interest for each
Payment Date are stated on Schedule 1 hereto. The Borrower shall pay the unpaid
principal amount of and accrued interest on the Loan on ____________, 2001 (the
"Maturity Date").

      Any payment of interest, principal or any other payment not paid to Lender
when due and payable hereunder shall, from the date when due and payable until
the date when fully paid, bear

                                       40
<Page>

interest at the Default Rate.

      All payments of principal, interest and other amounts to be made by
Borrower to Lender hereunder shall be made to the account specified and in the
manner provided in the Loan Agreement. Lender shall apply the payment of
principal and other amounts due on this Promissory Note as follows: FIRST, to
the payment of any amount (other than principal and interest) due to Lender
hereunder or under the Borrower Loan Documents with respect to the Loan; SECOND,
to the payment of accrued and unpaid interest due on this Promissory Note; and
THIRD, to the payment of principal under this Promissory Note.

      This Promissory Note and the Loan may be prepaid in full at any time or
from time to time without penalty, premium or prepayment fee, provided that such
prepayment is of all principal outstanding on the Loan, and all other
liabilities of the Borrower with respect to the Loan then due under the Borrower
Loan Documents. Borrower may be obligated to prepay this Promissory Note as
specified in the Loan Agreement and subject to the requirements thereof.

      Borrower agrees to record separately the name and address and any other
necessary identifying information of Lender in a register maintained as part of
a book-entry system. Borrower and Lender shall treat the party whose name is
recorded in such register as Lender hereunder with all entitlements under this
Promissory Note. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this
Promissory Note or the other Borrower Loan Documents, no assignment by Lender of
any rights or obligations under or in respect of the Loan or the Note shall be
effective unless and until Borrower shall have recorded such assignment in the
register maintained pursuant to the preceding paragraph; PROVIDED that if any
such transfer occurs while an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing,
Lender may act as Borrower's agent for effecting registration of such transfer.
Borrower shall record the name of the transferor, the name of the transferee and
the amount of the transfer in the register in the case of a transfer that
complies with the requirements of the Loan Agreement.

      This Promissory Note is the Note referred to in the Loan Agreement and is
entitled to the security and benefits provided in the Security Agreement.

      Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and for so long as such Event
of Default shall continue, the principal hereof and accrued interest hereon may
be declared to be or may automatically become forthwith due and payable, and
Lender shall be entitled to recover, in addition to all other sums due
hereunder, all of the reasonable costs and expenses, including, without
limitation, court costs and attorney fees, incurred by Lender in enforcing its
rights hereunder.

      Borrower waives diligence, demand, presentment, notice of nonpayment and
protest, all in the sole discretion of Lender and without notice and without
affecting in any manner the liability of Borrower.

      Capitalized terms used herein that are not otherwise defined herein shall
have the meanings ascribed to them in the Loan Agreement and/or the Security
Agreement.

                                       41
<Page>

      THIS PROMISSORY NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

        [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY BLANK -- SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

                                       42
<Page>

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrower has caused this Promissory Note to be
executed by one of its authorized officers as of the date hereof.

                                        CHAUTAUQUA AIRLINES, INC.

                                        By:
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                                       1
<Page>

NOTE TO EXHIBIT 10.56

The three additional Interim Loan Agreements are substantially identical in all
material respects to the filed Interim Loan Agreement except as follows:

<Table>
<Caption>

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
            TAIL NUMBER                          CLOSING DATE                     OWNER-PARTICIPANT

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
<S>                                   <C>                                 <C>
              N372SK                           December, 2001                          Embraer
------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
              N373SK                           December, 2001                          Embraer
------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
              N374SK                           December, 2001                          Embraer
------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
</Table><Page>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.57

                            LETTER AGREEMENT (N375SK)

      LETTER AGREEMENT (N375SK), dated as of February 20, 2002, among Solitair
Corp. ("SOLITAIR"), Chautauqua Airlines, Inc. (the "AIRLINE" or "BORROWER") and
Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. ("EMBRAER").

      Solitair has agreed to purchase from Embraer new EMB-145 model EMB-135 KL
aircraft (the "Purchase Agreement AIRCRAFT") pursuant to the Purchase Agreement
Number GCT-025/98 dated June 17, 1998, as amended (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT").
Solitair is assigning its right to purchase one of the Purchase Agreement
Aircraft, bearing msn 145569 (the "AIRCRAFT") to the Airline on the date hereof,
and Embraer has agreed to provide interim financing to the Airline for its
purchase of such Aircraft, subject to certain agreements of the parties hereto.
Terms defined in the Loan Agreement and used herein have such defined meanings
unless otherwise defined herein. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as
follows:

      1. LOAN. (a) On the date hereof, Embraer is financing 90% of the "Aircraft
Purchase Price" (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) for the Aircraft by
making a loan (the "LOAN") to the Airline pursuant to an Interim Loan Agreement
(N375SK) between the Borrower and Embraer dated as of the date hereof (the "Loan
Agreement").

      (b) Embraer and the Airline hereby agree that for purposes of determining
the monthly payment amount during the Term (as defined in the Loan Agreement),
the amount of the Loan shall be reduced by $150,000 for the "Debt Commitment"
and by $349,489.28 for the "Special Credit Rebate" (each as defined in Amendment
No. 1 to Letter Agreement GCT 026/98).

      2. COOPERATION. (a) During the Term (as defined in the Loan Agreement),
the Airline, Solitair and Embraer shall reasonably cooperate and update each
other on the ongoing negotiations among the Airline and FINAME and American
Airlines, Inc. (and, if applicable, its affiliates) ("American"), for the FINAME
Refinancing (as defined in Section 4 below).

            (b) Solitair and the Airline agree that upon the execution of FINAME
Refinancing documentation applicable to EMB-135KL aircraft to be operated
pursuant to a code-share agreement with American, the Aircraft shall, after the
three other EMB-135KL aircraft delivered by Embraer to the Airline on December
31, 2001, be the first aircraft to be financed pursuant to such FINAME
Refinancing, with 80% of the Aircraft Purchase Price to be credited directly by
FINAME to Embraer and 10% (the "Down Payment") to be paid to Embraer by the
Airline; provided that at the time of such FINAME Refinancing, Embraer shall
provide or cause to be provided to the Airline a loan for the remaining 10% of
the Aircraft Purchase Price at a rate of 9% per annum for a loan term of 2
years, with other terms to be reasonably agreed by the Airline and Embraer or
its designee.

            (c) The Airline covenants and agrees that it shall make good faith
efforts with FINAME, and reasonable efforts with American and Embraer, to
complete the FINAME Refinancing.

<Page>
                                                                          Page 2

            (d) In the event the Airline repays the Loan other than through a
FINAME Refinancing, the Proex notes with respect to the Aircraft shall be
promptly discounted pursuant to Section 5(a) and all proceeds of such
discounting shall be paid directly to Embraer and immediately paid by Embraer to
the Airline.

            (e) (i) Embraer agrees that notwithstanding anything to the contrary
in the Loan Agreement (including without limitation Section 9.4 thereof),
provided that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, it will not
assign or transfer any of its rights or obligations thereunder until the
discounting of the Proex notes and payment of the proceeds thereof as referred
to above, except in connection with a FINAME Refinancing.

                  (ii) The Airline agrees that notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in the Loan Agreement, before any discounting of the Proex notes and
payment of the proceeds thereof as referred to above, the rights provided in
Section 7.2 of the Loan Agreement shall not apply.

      3. CREDIT SUPPORT. In the event the Airline seeks to refinance the Loan
other than through a FINAME Refinancing, the Airline shall have the right to
obtain a residual value guarantee and/or a first loss deficiency guarantee to
support its refinancing of the Aircraft ("Credit Support") with investors other
than FINAME, on terms and at prices previously agreed by Solitair and Embraer,
for a refinancing to occur on or before the Maturity Date. The Airline may apply
the $150,000 amount referred to in Section 1.b hereof to the price of any such
support, and any additional amounts due will increase the purchase price of
future deliveries of aircraft under the Purchase Agreement as agreed between
Solitair and Embraer if there are undelivered firm order aircraft at that time,
but otherwise shall be paid by the Airline to Embraer. If the Loan is
refinanced, other than by FINAME, without using Credit Support, the principal
amount of the Loan shall be deemed cancelled and satisfied in the amount of
$150,000.

      4. FINAME REFINANCING. If the Airline refinances the Aircraft (a "FINAME
Refinancing") with a borrowing from Agencia Especial de Financiamento Industrial
("FINAME"), the Loan shall be repaid in the principal amount of the loan made by
FINAME in such refinancing upon the closing of such refinancing, although
Embraer shall accept funds from FINAME in the Brazilian currency in satisfaction
of such Loan. If the principal amount of the loan made by FINAME in such
refinancing as aforesaid exceeds the outstanding principal amount of the Loan on
such closing date Embraer shall refund to the Airline on such closing date an
amount equal to such excess. Upon such refinancing by FINAME, Embraer shall
return for cancellation the promissory note issued by the Airline to Embraer.

      5. PROEX BENEFITS. Embraer represents and warrants to the Airline that,
provided that no Event of Default (as defined in the Loan Agreement) shall have
occurred and be continuing, the Airline will be entitled to the Proex Benefits
as described in Article 1B of Amendment Number 1 to Letter Agreement GCT-026/98,
between Embraer and Solitair (the "PROEX BENEFITS") with respect to the Aircraft
as if the Proex Benefits were made available to the Airline on the date hereof
for such Aircraft.

            (a) In the event the Airline repays the Loan other than through a
FINAME Refinancing, the parties shall take all necessary measures to ensure that
Citibank - Brazil (acting as the "Proex Agent Bank") will promptly discount the
Proex notes which are otherwise due on

<Page>
                                                                          Page 3

semi-annual basis until the 15th year following the Aircraft Delivery Date,
which value shall be determined using the same methodology and assumptions as
used by the Proex Agent Bank in its previous purchases between itself and
Imprimis Investors LLC ("IMPRIMIS"). If the cash value obtained by the Airline
by the discounting of Proex under this Section 5(a) is less than the cash value
which would have been obtained by the Airline by the discounting of Proex in a
similar manner to that which has been obtained by Imprimis using the same
methodology and assumptions as used by Citibank-Brazil and Embraer in its
previous purchases of Proex notes from Imprimis, as adjusted for the then
current five-year LIBOR swap rate, then Embraer shall immediately pay such
difference to the Airline.

            (b) If on any refinancing of the Aircraft utilizing a loan from
FINAME, the interest rate proposed by FINAME applicable to the debt service
payments on such loan would otherwise exceed the interest rate that would have
been provided by FINAME, which rate is the Commercial Interest Reference Rate in
effect at the time of closing for U.S. dollar loans with more than 17
semi-annual repayment periods, exclusively due to a reduction in the value of
the Proex Benefits, then at the time of such refinancing Embraer shall
compensate FINAME with the necessary amount to adjust the FINAME loan to
preserve the same economics for the Airline.

      6. SPECIAL CREDIT REBATE. On the day that Embraer receives payment in full
under the Promissory Note dated the date hereof with respect to the Aircraft,
Embraer shall pay the Airline the Special Credit Rebate in the amount of
$349,489.28; provided that if the Airline and Embraer agree otherwise, Embraer
may pay such amount after the day that Embraer receives payment.

      7. INSURANCE. If any lease agreement under which Airline leases an Embraer
aircraft from General Electric Company or any of its Affiliates is amended or
modified to reduce the war risk and allied perils insurance required to be
maintained by Airline with respect to such aircraft below the requirements of
the Security Agreement, upon request of the Airline Embraer shall amend the
Security Agreement to require such insurance at the reduced level.

      8. AMERICAN AIRLINES CODE SHARE, END-OF TERM PUT OPTION. (a) The Airline
hereby confirms that by means of a modification to the Air Services Agreement
dated June 11, 2001 (the "Air Services Agreement") between the Airline and AMR
Corporation ("AMR"), the Airline and AMR have agreed that the Airline may
operate the Aircraft for up to the duration of the Term regardless of whether
the terms of the Loan Agreement and related documents satisfy the requirements
of the Air Services Agreement.

            (b) If (i) the Airline and (at Embraer's option) Embraer, are unable
to implement a refinancing of the Aircraft before the end of the 75th day prior
to the Maturity Date, on terms as favorable to the Airline as the FINAME
financing terms planned to be consummated on December 28, 2001 (except that the
FINAME Refinancing shall a financing be for 80% of the Aircraft Purchase Price)
and on terms as shall have been approved by AMR, and no Event of Default
referred to in Section 8.1(a)(i) of the Loan Agreement shall have occurred and
be continuing, then notwithstanding the terms of the Loan Agreement and the
Promissory Note, the Airline shall have the option to put the Aircraft to
Embraer at the end of the Term, on the terms provided in Section 8(c) below,
unless the parties have agreed in writing otherwise or (ii) an Event of Default
under the Loan Agreement shall have occurred and is continuing (other than an

<Page>
                                                                          Page 4

Event of Default referred to in Section 8.1(a)(i) of the Loan Agreement) and the
principal amount of the Loan shall have been accelerated, the Airline shall have
the option to put the Aircraft to Embraer on ten Business Days' written notice
to Embraer, on the terms provided in Section 8(c) below (other than clauses (i)
and (iv) thereof). If the Airline does not elect to put the Aircraft to Embraer
as required by this Section 8, then it shall be deemed to have waived the put
option.

            (c) The terms of the put shall be as follows: (i) the Airline shall
provide written notice to Embraer of its exercise of the put option no less than
60 days before the end of the Term; (ii) the Airline shall tender the Aircraft
to Embraer or its designee by delivering the same at an airport designated by
Embraer and approved by the Airline (such approval not to be unreasonably
withheld) in the 48 contiguous states of the United States of America on the
Airline's route system; (iii) the Airline shall deliver a warranty bill of sale
and FAA bill of sale conveying good and marketable title to the Aircraft, free
and clear of all Liens other than Liens attributable to Embraer; (iv) the date
for delivery to Embraer or its designee shall be within ten (10) days after the
last day of the Term; (v) the Airline shall assign all remaining warranties with
respect to the Aircraft (to the extent assignable); and (vi) the Airline (and
Solitair, if applicable) shall assign any rights with respect to Proex to
Embraer or its designee. Upon tender by the Airline to Embraer or its designee
as aforesaid, Embraer shall purchase the Aircraft for an amount equal to the
outstanding principal and unpaid interest under the Promissory Note (the "Unpaid
Balance") (to be paid by cancellation of the Promissory Note in the amount of
the Unpaid Balance) plus the Down Payment, reduced by any amounts due to Embraer
pursuant to Exhibit 1 hereto and, in the event of a put pursuant to Section
8(b)(ii), further reduced by all principal that would otherwise have been due
during the remainder of the Term and any other liquidated amounts due pursuant
to the Loan Agreement and Security Agreement (but excluding any other principal
and interest); provided that if such amounts owed by the Airline exceed the
amount of the Down Payment, the Airline shall pay the excess to Embraer at that
time. For the avoidance of doubt, Embraer shall not owe the Special Credit
Rebate or any amounts related to Proex if Buyer exercises its put option, and
the failure of Buyer to satisfy any provision of Exhibit 1 hereto shall not
invalidate Buyer's right to put the Aircraft to Embraer and Embraer's obligation
to purchase it..

      9. ARBITRATION. The provisions of Sections 21 and 22 of the Purchase
Agreement are incorporated herein by reference and made part of this Letter
Agreement as if set forth herein in full.

      10. GOVERNING LAW. This Letter Agreement shall be governed by the laws of
the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed in such
State.

      11. EFFECT UPON PURCHASE AGREEMENT. A breach of this Letter Agreement by
any party hereto shall not be deemed a breach of the Purchase Agreement by that
party.

      12. THIS AGREEMENT GOVERNS. To the extent of any inconsistency between any
Borrower Loan Document and this Letter Agreement, the Letter Agreement shall
govern.

                       [Remainder of this page is blank.]

<Page>
                                                                          Page 5

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, by their duly authorized officers, have
entered into and executed this Letter Agreement to be effective as of the date
first written above.

EMBRAER-Empresa Brasileira
de Aeronautica, S.A.                SOLITAIR CORP.

By:  _______________________        By: _______________________________

Name:  _____________________        Name:  ____________________________

Title:  ____________________        Title: ____________________________

Date:  _____________________        Date: _____________________________

                                    CHAUTAUQUA AIRLINES, INC.

By:  _______________________        By:  ______________________________

Name:_______________________        Name:  ____________________________

Title:______________________        Title: ____________________________

Date:_______________________        Date:  ____________________________

<Page>

NOTE TO EXHIBIT 10.57

The three additional Letter Agreements are substantially identical in all
material respects to the filed Letter Agreement except as follows:

<Table>
<Caption>

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
            TAIL NUMBER                          CLOSING DATE                     OWNER-PARTICIPANT

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
<S>                                   <C>                                 <C>
              N372SK                           December, 2001                          Embraer
------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
              N373SK                           December, 2001                          Embraer
------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
              N374SK                           December, 2001                          Embraer
------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
</Table>

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