Essential air overhaul

By KIM SMITH DEDAM
Staff Writer

December 29, 2007 07:40 am

— SARANAC LAKE -- Big Sky Airline's final departure from Northeast skies Jan. 7 will leave five airports in upstate New York without commercial flights for months.
U.S. Department of Transportation has opened an emergency search for Essential Air Service providers for Saranac Lake, Plattsburgh, Ogdensburg, Massena and Watertown airports, with bidding to close Jan. 11.
Already, airports are scheduling visits from interested airlines.
But commuter air traffic will end abruptly when Big Sky shutters eastern operations next Friday, even though DOT has ordered the beleaguered airline to stay open until a new carrier is found.
SHUTDOWN EXPECTED
If the airline cannot physically do the job for which it signed a contract, there is nothing DOT can do about it, airport officials say.
"It all depends on whether or not they get rid of their planes and terminate their employees," said Harrietstown Town Councilman Barry DeFuria.
Word from Big Sky employees here is that they're out of work Jan. 7.
"From what we're seeing, yes, they will leave," said John Lawrence, transportation supervisor for Jefferson County, which operates Watertown Airport.
Big Sky built an airline service department at Watertown to support operations in the Northeast. That will close, too, cutting 30 good-paying jobs, Lawrence said.
In all, Big Sky's final departure will leave about 150 people in the North Country unemployed or looking for new jobs.
ONE VOICE
DOT's flexibility in this emergency may revise the way Essential Air Service works in upstate New York.
The five communities affected are working together to find individual solutions.
"We formed this alliance to act as one voice," said Harrietstown Supervisor Larry Miller, acting manager of Adirondack Regional Airport, which is owned by the Town of Harrietstown.
"We'll be ready to go to Washington and sit down with DOT to discuss the options. We are working together for the benefit of the entire region.
"It is my understanding that the Tri-Lakes area is looking for the connection to Albany, but each airport is unique," Miller said. "It is important that we stay united in encouraging DOT to work with every community."
PLATTSBURGH GROWTH
Plattsburgh International Airport Manager Christopher Kreig said momentum at the newly opened Plattsburgh facility speaks volumes for potential airline growth in the North Country.
It's a silver lining to the Big Sky cloud.
Even with Big Sky's high flight cancellation rate, the addition of twice-weekly Allegiant Air service to Florida tabbed nearly 2,000 enplanements in the last two months alone, more than the 1,700 counted in the entire year last year at the decommissioned Clinton County Airport.
"You now have five communities very diligently working to preserve the air service (to the North Country). This is absolutely an opportunity," Kreig said. "It's an opportunity for everyone. But this issue was a Big Sky issue. It's not a fault of Plattsburgh airport or Saranac Lake or Watertown or Massena or Ogdensburg. We were handed this problem, and we are taking the steps to fix it."
Miller said representatives from five affected airports have held several conference calls with county officials, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), Congressman John McHugh (R-Pierrepont Manor), the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration in the past week.
STAND-ALONE SERVICE
In the emergency request for proposals, airlines can apply for stand-alone service to one or more of the airports, which may supplant DOT's previous one-size-fits-all approach to contracts, which used to have to accommodate three airports at once.
"In addition, because of the current industry shortage of 19-seat aircraft and pilots, we would even entertain proposals that do not meet the technical requirements for (Essential Air Service), provided that the affected community is supportive," DOT said in the request.
Federal subsidy, previously set at $2.4 million for Plattsburgh and Adirondack Airports combined, has typically required service with 19-seat, twin-engine jets, forcing competition to a limited pool of airlines.
"I'm more optimistic today than I was yesterday," Miller said. "Behind the scenes, we've been working together."
"With a little wiggle room, we might find a better fit," Lawrence said.
"We may get somebody up here not previously involved with Essential Air Service," Kreig said. "The critical thing is finding affordable, convenient and reliable airline service for these rural communities."
DEBTS
Big Sky held 15 of the total 100 Essential Air Service contracts in the United States, including the five in upstate New York.
On Dec. 20, the Montana-based company told shareholders it would liquidate corporate assets to pay off investors next year.
Seven of Big Sky's key Montana contracts have already been replaced, according to news reports, by Great Lakes Aviation.
The company owes regional airports thousands in unpaid fuel, de-icing and landing fees.
In a resolution Tuesday night, Harrietstown Town Council approved steps toward seeking legal resolution of Big Sky's nearly $51,000 debt.
kdedam@pressrepublican.com

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