By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Scott Wardwell, manger of the Northern Maine Regional Airport, told councilors Monday night that essential air service options to his facility were limited due to new regulations that restrict the number of hours pilots are allowed to fly.
Wardwell has spent the last six months trying to get additional airlines to bid on air service to NMRA.
“We had four potentially bid. Unfortunately since Jan. 1, three have backed out because of new federal regulations that increase the amount of time crews have to rest before they can fly again,” said Wardwell. “They’ve also increased the number of hours co-pilots must fly before they can fly for regional carriers.”
He said three of the four airlines who’d expressed interest in the bidding process were significantly impacted by the changes.
“United, by June 4, will park 54 jets due to having no pilots. Another airline is down more than 50 percent in coverage of their areas due to lack of pilots. For small markets like us, this kills us,” he said.
Wardwell said he’s contacted several elected officials’ offices, telling them to “be very careful what you pass for new legislation.”
“Any time you pass something that ups costs to regional carriers, Presque Isle takes it in the neck. There are lobbyists for this, but they’re up against pilots’ unions and victims’ families who lobby for stricter regulations. Lobbyists find it hard to fight that,” said the airport manager.
He said one of the airlines opted to go with larger markets.
“We’re put up against new service to Memphis, Lexington and Charleston,” said Wardwell, noting NMRA can’t compete with a market that has access to multiple larger carriers.
City Manager Jim Bennett said carriers often don’t take into consideration where customers come from to use their service.
“People doing marketing have no concept that in 30 minutes you can go 30 miles around here. They think in terms of travel in someplace like Portland. We’re talking a lot of customers across the border in New Brunswick. A lot of NMRA customers are non-U.S. citizens,” said Bennett.
Wardwell said he spends a lot of time “trying to convince them (various airlines) that they can’t use their box (format) to put everything in,” noting that for an airline headquartered in Chicago, there’s a big difference from there to NMRA.
Councilor Dick Engels noted the increased air traffic brought about when biathletes flew into Presque Isle for competition earlier this month.
Wardwell said Pen-Air did a great job, adding flights in and out.
“They were prepared to add more but it wasn’t necessary,” said Wardwell.
Bennett said “Pen-Air’s been very responsive.”
“When we’ve asked, they’ve done a lot of wonderful things along the way. But coming from Alaska down to the lower 48 — we’re still behind the 8-ball,” said Bennett. “It’s the same thing we’ve talked about: coming from a different experience and not understanding. There’s not a lot of competition in Alaska. There are a lot more choices in the lower continental U.S.”
Councilors will take up the discussion of essential air service at the NMRA at a future meeting.
At Monday’s meeting, councilors also:
• Approved of Teamsters Local 340’s fire contract with the Presque Isle Fire Department;
• Recommended biathlon volunteers be recognized at a future meeting;
• Thanked the Presque Isle Kiwanis Club for hosting the Vegas Fever event, with proceeds benefiting the Community Center fund-raising campaign; and
• Asked Bennett to put the topic of maintaining downtown sidewalks on the agenda for the April 7 meeting.
The next regularly-scheduled council meeting will be Monday, April 7, at 6 p.m. at City Hall. The public is welcome and encouraged to participate. For more information, call 760-2720.
