Feds seeking proposals for Essential Air Service for Pierre, South Dakota

The federal government is seeking proposals from airlines to see what it would cost to provide a subsidized Essential Air Service route in and out of Pierre, city commissioners learned Tuesday. 

 Commissioner Jeanne Goodman announced the development at Tuesday’s meeting of the Pierre City Commission, saying it is the result of a yearlong effort by city and airport personnel.

Goodman said the federal Department of Transportation on Monday issued a request for proposals from carriers. The DOT wants proposals from airlines willing to provide Essential Air Service between Pierre and a major air traffic hub such as Minneapolis or Denver.

The deadline for proposals is Oct. 15, Goodman said.

South Dakota already has Essential Air Service to Aberdeen, Huron and Watertown.

The Essential Air Service program, which began in response to the move to de-regulate airlines in the late 1970s, subsidizes airlines willing to provide service to selected communities across the country that otherwise would not receive any regular air service.

As of late 2013, 160 communities received subsidized air service under the program. About one-fourth of those communities are in Alaska.

Great Lakes Airlines currently serves as Pierre’s only provider of commercial air service.

Goodman also reminded commissioners that starting today and running through the fall hunting seasons, Great Lakes Airlines will fly 30-seat Embraer 120 Brasilia aircraft twice a day between Denver and Pierre. More recently the airline has been flying Beechcraft 1900D planes, which seat 19.

However, the airline removed 10 seats from each of its Beechcraft models in 2014 and obtained a special operating license that allows it to fly nine-seat airplanes, which are not subject to the pilot restrictions.

The industry has been dealing with a shortage of pilots because of a change in August 2013 that increased the minimum training hours required for co-pilots from 250 to 1,500.

That shortage has caused a high number of delayed or canceled flights at the Pierre Regional Airport.

- Source:  http://www.capjournal.com

Feds seek input on air service in Pierre, South Dakota 

PIERRE — The federal government is seeking proposals from airlines to see what it would cost to provide subsidized service in Pierre.

The Transportation Department wants proposals from carriers who could fly between Pierre and a major hub such as Minneapolis or Denver through the Essential Air Service program. The deadline is Oct. 15.

Great Lakes Airlines currently serves Pierre, but the carrier has had to cancel or delay many flights because of a lack of pilots. The airline cites new federal regulations for the pilot shortage.

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