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Updated: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 8:11 AM


OST-2005-21681 - EAS at Rutland, VT - Requesting Proposals

http://www.vermontairports.com/rutland.html - Rutland State Airport


OST-1997-2784 - EAS at Augusta/Waterville, Bar Harbor, Rockland, Maine; Keene, New Hampshire; Rutland, Vermont


Essential Air Service at Rutland, Vermont

Order 2005-7-8
OST-2005-21681

Issued July 11, 2005 | Served July 14, 2005

Order Requesting Proposals | Word

Rutland’s historical traffic is shown in Appendix B.  CommutAir has provided service to Rutland for two years.  In the last carrier selection order, we noted that traffic had declined at Rutland, putting the community at risk of losing its subsidy eligibility under the statutory $200 subsidy per passenger ceiling.  Since then, Rutland’s traffic has rebounded somewhat from the 4,067 level transported for the year ended March 31, 2003, which placed Rutland’s EAS guarantee in jeopardy, to 5,393 for the year ended March 31, 2005.  Nevertheless, if the carriers’ projected subsidy costs increase somewhat from the current level, Rutland might lose its eligibility for continued subsidy support.  If no carrier submits a proposal that would keep the subsidy per passenger under the cap given these data, which we do not anticipate, Rutland’s eligibility for subsidy support would be terminated.  However, in view of the increase in traffic, we would expect to see a drop in projected subsidy.

By: Karan Bhatia



August 12, 2005

Proposal of Champlain Enterprises d/b/a CommutAir

Champlain Enterprises Inc. would like to submit this letter of support for the attached proposal for air service between Rutland, VT and Boston, MA. Our proposed service pattern is to offer two non‑stop round trips each weekday and two non‑stop round trips over each weekend. The proposed annual subsidy for this service is $790,680.

Our proposed service, operated as Continental Connection®, will provide access to the national air transportation system by timing said flights such that they offer connections to Continental Airlines' hub(s) from Boston as well as connections to other airlines.

By: Champlain, Joel Raymond



Order 2005-8-23
OST-2005-21681

Issued and Served August 30, 2005

Order Reselecting Carrier - Bookmarked

We select Champlain Enterprises, Inc., d/b/a CommutAir, to provide essential air service at Rutland, Vermont, for the period November 1, 2005, through October 31,2007, as described in Appendix B.

We set the final rate of compensation for CommutAir for the provision of essential air service at Rutland, Vermont, as described in Appendix B, to be payable as follows: for each month during which essential air service is provided, the amount of compensation shall be subject to the weekly ceiling, and shall be determined by multiplying the subsidy-eligible arrivals and departures completed during the month by $306.28.

By: Karan Bhatia



OST-1997-2784 - Augusta/Waterville, Bar Harbor, and Rockland, ME
OST-2000-8025 - Saranac Lake/Lake Placid, NY
OST-2003-14783 - Plattsburgh, NY
OST-2005-21681 - Rutland, VT

May 18, 2007

Application for Termination of Service

Please find CommutAir's application for termination of Essential Air Service pursuant 14 CFR 323(a)(1), at Plattsburgh, NY, Saranac Lake, NY and Rutland, VT. The decision to file notice of termination is based on CommutAir's plan to retire its fleet of Beech 1900D airliners as it takes delivery of larger aircraft which are not suited (in the opinion of the Company) for EAS markets of this size.

Please understand, filing notice for termination of service was not an easy decision given our company's long standing relationship with all three communities - especially in the case of PLB which is where our company was founded and has maintained its corporate headquarters for the past 18 years.

It is our understanding the effective date of this termination notice, pursuant 14 CFR 323.5, shall be 90 days from the date which the Office of the Secretary receives this application. Furthermore it is our understanding this filing will set into motion the process of "re-bidding" for air service at all three communities and CommutAir will be obligated to continue current service until such time a new carrier is selected.

By: CommutAir, Joel Raymond, 527-562-2700 x195



Order 2007-6-6
OST-2000-8025 - Saranac Lake/Lake Placid, NY
OST-2003-14783 - Plattsburgh, NY
OST-2005-21681 - Rutland, VT

Issued June 6, 2007 | Served June 11, 2007

Order Prohibiting Termination of Service and Requesting Proposals

By this order, the Department is: (a) prohibiting Champlain Enterprises, Inc., d/b/a CommutAir, operating as Continental Connection, from terminating its subsidized essential air service at Plattsburgh and Saranac Lake/Lake Placid, New York, and Rutland, Vermont, at the end of its 90-day notice period, and (b) requesting long-term proposals from carriers interested in providing EAS at all three communities, for a new two-year period, with or without subsidy. Carriers should file their proposals no later than July 11, 2007.

With specific respect to Plattsburgh and Saranac Lake/Lake Placid, we expect proposals consisting of service with 19-passenger aircraft and offering three round trips a day to Boston and/or Albany or two round trips a day with larger aircraft. At Rutland, we expect proposals consisting of service with 19-passenger aircraft and offering two round trips each weekday and each weekend to Boston. Such service is generally consistent with what the communities currently receive, and fully satisfies their essential air service requirements. We encourage proposals that meet those requirements in an efficient manner. Carriers are also welcome to propose more than one service option, if they choose; they need not limit themselves to those requirements if they envision other, potentially more attractive service possibilities - different hubs, for example -- with subsidy requirements that remain competitive.

For Plattsburgh, interested carriers should also note that the Clinton County Airport closed very recently. Certification of Plattsburgh International Airport, formerly Plattsburgh Air Force Base, is complete and now serves as the community's EAS airport.

By: Michael Reynolds



OST-2003-14783 - Plattsburgh
OST-2000-8025 - Saranac Lake/Lake Placid
OST-2005-21681 - Rutland

July 11, 2007

Proposal of Big Sky Airlines | Word

Big Sky has two operational proposals. All flights will be operated with modern 19 passenger Beechcraft 1900D aircraft, offering a pressurized stand-up cabin and fast cruise speeds. Big Sky recently entered an agreement to acquire eight additional B1900D aircraft, the first of which was delivered on July 6, 2007.  This aircraft purchase commitment will nearly double the size of Big Sky’s fleet.

Proposal 1 Service to: Weekly Flights
Plattsburgh Boston 18
Saranac Lake/Lake Placid Boston 18
Rutland Boston 12
Annual Subsidy Requirement $3,270,598

Proposal 2 Service to: Weekly Flights
Plattsburgh Boston 18
Saranac Lake/Lake Placid Boston 18
Annual Subsidy Requirement $2,408,294

By: Big Sky, Fred deLeeuw, 406-247-3931, fred.deleeuw@bigskyair.com


July 11, 2007

Proposal of Cape Air

3x Daily Schedule Using Cessna 402s:

RUT-BOS BOS-RUT
Departs Arrives Departs Arrives
6:30 7:30 10:10 11:10
11:30 12:30 17:10 18:10
18:30 19:30 21:30 22:30

By: Cape Air, Andrew Bonney, 508-790-3122 x519



OST-2003-14783 - Plattsburgh
OST-2000-8025 - Saranac Lake/Lake Placid
OST-2005-21681 - Rutland


July 17, 2007

Statement of Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines, Inc. submits this statement in support of the submission of Big Sky Transportation Co. d/b/a Big Sky Airlines to the extent it proposes to provide essential air service between the above-referenced communities and Boston, Massachusetts. Delta further hereby advises the Department that if Big Sky is selected for EAS from Boston to these destinations, Delta intends to codeshare with Big Sky on those EAS services, by placing the DL* designator code on those flights. A codeshare relationship with Big Sky would offer passengers from the affected EAS communities access to Delta's global transportation system.

Counsel: Hogan & Hartson, Robert Cohn, 202-637-4999, recohn@hhlaw.com


July 17, 2007

DOT Letter Requesting Community Comments of:

We request that you review Big Sky’s proposal and submit any comments you may have before we submit a recommendation to the Assistant Secretary. We ask that you submit any comments you may have as soon as possible, but in any case no later than August 6, 2007.



OST-2003-14783 - Plattsburgh
OST-2000-8025 - Saranac Lake/Lake Placid
OST-2005-21681
- Rutland


July 20, 2007

City of Rutland Request for Extension of Comment Date

I am in receipt of your letter of July 17, 2007 requesting the review of proposals from Big Sky and Cape Air for the EAS program at Rutland State Airport. Please accept this request for an extension of the suspense date from August 6, 2007 to August 13, 2007.

The City's selection committee will be unable to meet with the carriers or have discussions with other impacted municipalities before the 6th, but a one week extension will give us the opportunity to fully review all aspects and details of each proposal.

By: Mayor, Christopher Louras, 802-773-1827


July 20, 2007

DOT Memorandum Extending Comment Date

By letters to the communities listed above, dated July 17, 2007, the Department offered each community the opportunity to provide comments on the essential air service proposal submitted by Big Sky Transportation Company, d/b/a Big Sky Airlines and Hyannis Air Service, d/b/a Cape Air. The deadline for comments was set as August 6. In a letter dated July 20, the Mayor of Rutland requested an extension to file comments.

We are hereby granting the community's request and extending the date for comments from the three communities listed above until August 13, 2007.

By: Dennis DeVany



August 10, 2007

City of Rutland in Support of Cape Air

We are recommending Cape Air's proposal as the best opportunity for air service growth for the Rutland Region. We weighed both proposals carefully along with the needs of the community and our specific requirements as related to demographics, geography, current and prospective users, the service providers existing route structure and our airport's capability to provide year around support with the two proposed type of aircraft. However, we are making our recommendation contingent on Cape Air's ability to utilize our special instrument approach which has been proven in the past to be critical to reliable performance at Rutland. At the time of the interview Cape Air could not determine their Cessna 402 Aircraft's ability to utilize Rutland's "LOC Y Rwy 19" (Special) Approach and is researching that capability.

By: Mayor, Christopher Louras, 802-773-1827



Order 2007-9-4
OST-2003-14783
- Plattsburgh
OST-2000-8025 - Saranac Lake/Lake Placid
OST-2005-21681 - Rutland

Issued September 6, 2007 | Served September 11, 2007

Order Extending Service Obligation

By this order, the Department of Transportation extends the service obligation of Champlain Enterprises, Inc., d/b/a CommutAir, at the above-captioned communities, for an additional 30 days, through October 17, 2007.

Since September 16th is a Sunday, the initial hold-in should have run through Monday, September 17th; therefore, this hold-in period will end on October 17th.

By: Todd Homan



Order 2007-9-13
OST-2003-14783 - Plattsburgh
OST-2000-8025 - Saranac Lake/Lake Placid
OST-2005-21681 - Rutland

Issued September 13, 2007 | Served September 18, 2007

Order Selecting Carriers and Establishing Subsidy Rates

By this order, the Department is selecting: (a) Big Sky Transportation Co., d/b/a Big Sky Airlines, operating as Delta Connection, to provide subsidized EAS at Plattsburgh and Saranac Lake/Lake Placid, New York, utilizing 19-seat Beech 1900-D aircraft, at an annual subsidy rate of $2,408,294, and (b) Hyannis Air Service, Inc., d/b/a Cape Air, to provide subsidized EAS at Rutland, Vermont, with 9-seat Cessna 402s, at annual subsidy rate of $839,746. The carriers will provide EAS at their respective communities for two-year terms beginning when they inaugurate full service.

By: Michael Reynolds



Order 2007-10-18
OST-2000-8025 - Saranac Lake/Lake Placid, NY
OST-2003-14783 - Plattsburgh, NY
OST-2005-21681 - Rutland, VT

Issued October 15, 2007 | Served October 18, 2007

Order Extending Service Obligation

By this order, the Department of Transportation extends the service obligation of Champlain Enterprises d/b/a CommutAir, at the above-captioned communities, for an additional 30 days, through November 16, 2007, as described in Order 2007-6-6.

By Order 2007-9-13, the Department selected Big Sky Airlines to provide EAS at Plattsburgh and Saranac Lake; and Cape Air at Rutland for a new two-year period. The carrier transitions are scheduled for October 31, after the end of the current hold-in period. Thus, in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 41734(c), we will extend CommutAir's service obligation at these communities, for an additional 30 days, or until replacement service actually begins, whichever occurs first.

By: Todd Homan



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