The federal Essential Air Service program – critical to
providing air service to Bradford Regional Airport – will continue
for another year, with lawmakers hiking overall funding to the
program by $8 million.

Funding for the program was part of the expansive appropriations
bill recently passed by Congress. The allocation was through a
funding stream for the U.S. Departments of Transportation, Treasury
and Housing and Urban Development.

Also included in the legislation is language directing the
Department of Transportation to provide additional resources to the
EAS program should fuel expenses lead to the program’s costs rising
above the initial amount provided in the bill. Bradford Regional’s
current carrier, Colgan Air Inc., is currently looking to
renegotiate its contract with the DOT under the EAS program, in
part, because of a hike in fuel prices and operating costs.

The program ensures that communities that had commercial air
service prior to deregulation continue to receive it.

“EAS is not just a matter of convenience for rural America, but
an absolute necessity for which we will continue to fight,”
Peterson said. “Among other important elements, the program allows
rural communities to connect to areas across the country and around
the world, making our communities economically viable and
contributing greatly to our area’s quality of life.

“After years of fighting every step of the way to ensure
sufficient funding for EAS, I am pleased that this year the
committee recognized its value to rural America early in the
process,” Peterson added.

The final version of the appropriations bill contains $110
million for the program in 2006.

Peterson’s sprawling and mainly rural 5th Congressional District
has numerous rural airports under the auspices of both the EAS and
the Virtual Primary Airport programs. The Virtual Primary Airport
program provides federal funding to airports struggling to regain
10,000 passengers annually in the wake of Sept. 11, 2001.

Bradford Airport Director Tom Frungillo applauded the passage of
the legislation, saying the program greatly benefits the rural
facility.

“This is good news for us,” Frungillo said Monday. “The
congressman realizes the importance of air service in a rural
community like ours. Every year it’s (EAS) targeted, and every year
there is a fight to retain it.”

The announcement by Colgan marks the third time in two years
that a carrier servicing the airport will look to renegotiate a
deal under EAS.

According to Chris Tucker, Peterson’s communications director,
the congressman wrote a letter to U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg,
R-Mich., the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on
Transportation, Treasury and Housing and Urban Development, to
highlight the impact of EAS on rural areas across the country and
clarify that continued funding for the program was one of the
lawmaker’s top priorities.

“We’ve been making those points for awhile now,” Tucker said.
“So we were thankful – and a bit relieved – that this year we
weren’t presented with an organized effort to eviscerate the
program …”

Tucker said the success in retaining the program this year
without much of a scuffle can be traced back to years past.

“In addition to the congressman’s efforts and the work of others
who strongly support EAS, rural airports and communities have done
a better job in letting Congress know the value of the program and
the impact air service has on their local economies,” Tucker
said.

“It’s an unfortunate fact that the administration will likely
continue to target the program for budget cuts, and possibly even
termination,” Tucker added. “We’ll continue to work with rural
members across the country to ensure the program is provided with
the highest possible level of funding.”

In regards to how any additional funding would be allocated for
fuel expenses, Tucker said the final determination would be in the
hands of the Department of Transportation.