14 C.F.R. PART 272—ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE TO THE FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES
Title 14 - Aeronautics and Space
Authority: 49 U.S.C. Chapters 401, 402, 416, 461, 1102; sec. 221(a)(5) of the Compact of Free Association, and paragraph 5 of Article IX of the Federal Programs and Services Agreement in implementation of that Compact (Pub. L. 99–239; Pub. L. 99–658); Pub. L. 101–219.
Source: Amdt. No. 272–1, 52 FR 5443, Feb. 23, 1987, unless otherwise noted.
Paragraph 5 of Article IX of the Federal Programs and Services Agreement implementing section 221(a)(5) of the Compact of Free Association between the United States and the Governments of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau (the Freely Associated States) provides, among other things, for the Department of Transportation (Department), as successor to the Civil Aeronautics Board (Board), to guarantee essential air service, with compensation if necessary, to certain places in these islands. Subparagraph 5(h) of the Agreement provides that the Department shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of paragraph 5 as it in its discretion deems appropriate. Section 221(a)(5) of the Compact, which was adopted by Congress as public laws (Pub. L. 99–239, Jan. 14, 1986; Pub. L. 99–658, Nov. 14, 1986), provides that the Department (as successor to the Board) has the authority to implement the provisions of paragraph 5 of the Agreement. This part implements these provisions of paragraph 5. [Amdt. No. 272–1, 52 FR 5443, Feb. 23, 1987, as amended at 60 FR 43525, Aug. 22, 1995] This part establishes the provisions applicable to the Department's guarantee of essential air service to places in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau, and the payment of compensation for such services. The rule applies to U.S. air carriers and Freely Associated State Air Carriers providing essential air service to these places. [Amdt. No. 272–1, 52 FR 5443, Feb. 23, 1987, as amended at 60 FR 43525, Aug. 22, 1995] (a) Subject to the provisions of this part, and paragraph 5 of Article IX of the Federal Programs and Services Agreement, the Department will make provision for the operation of essential air service, with compensation if necessary, to the following places in the Freely Associated States:
In the Federated States of Micronesia: Ponape, Truk and Yap. In the Marshall Islands: Majuro and Kwajalein. In Palau: Koror. (b) The places specified herein in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands or Palau, respectively, shall cease to be eligible places under this part if any of those Governments withdraw from the subsidy provisions of Article IX of the Federal Programs and Services Agreement in accordance with paragraph 8 of Article IX or Article XII of that Agreement. [Amdt. No. 272–1, 52 FR 5443, Feb. 23, 1987, as amended at 60 FR 43525, Aug. 22, 1995] Since the authority of the Department to guarantee essential air service is derived from the Federal Programs and Services Agreement and the Compact of Free Association, the provisions and procedures utilized by the Department in implementation of 49 U.S.C. 41731–42 will be followed only to the extent determined by the Department to be consistent with the obligations assumed by the United States in the Agreement and Compact, and the provisions of this part. [Amdt. No. 272–1, 52 FR 5443, Feb. 23, 1987, as amended at 60 FR 43525, Aug. 22, 1995] Procedures for the determination of essential air service under this section, and review of that determination, shall, except to the extent otherwise directed by the Department, be governed by §325.4 (except the application of 49 U.S.C. 41737 in §325.4(b)); §325.6(a); §§325.8–325.11; §325.12 (provided that all documents shall be served on the President and the designated authorities of the Freely Associated State concerned); and §§325.13 and 325.14 of this chapter. [Amdt. No. 272–1, 52 FR 5443, Feb. 23, 1987, as amended at 60 FR 43525, Aug. 22, 1995] (a) In the determination of essential air service to an eligible Freely Associated State place, the Department shall consider, among other factors, the following: (1) The demonstrated level of traffic demand; (2) The amount of compensation necessary to maintain a level of service sufficient to meet that demand; (3) The extent to which the demand may be accommodated by connecting or other services of U.S., Freely Associated State, or foreign carriers by air—through U.S., Freely Associated State, or foreign places—that provide access to the U.S. air transportation system; (4) Alternative modes of transportation that may be available; and (5) The peculiar needs of the Freely Associated States for air transportation services. (b) The Guidelines for Individual Determinations of essential air service set forth in part 398 of this chapter shall be applied only to the extent the Department concludes that they are applicable to the special circumstances affecting transportation to the Freely Associated States and reflective of the provisions of this part. (c) Nothing in this part shall be construed as providing for a level of essential air service that would exceed the level of service justified by the considerations set forth in paragraph (a) of this section. [Amdt. No. 272–1, 52 FR 5443, Feb. 23, 1987, as amended at 60 FR 43525, Aug. 22, 1995] (a) An air carrier or Freely Associated State Air Carrier shall not terminate, suspend, or reduce air service to any eligible Freely Associated State place, unless it has given notice as specified in this section, if as a result of the reduction of such service the aggregate of the remaining air service provided to such place would be below: (1) If the Department has not made a determination of essential air service for such place, the level of service specified in Order 80–9–63; and (2) If the Department has made a determination of essential air service for such place, that level of essential air service. (b) An air carrier or Freely Associated State Air Carrier wishing to terminate, suspend or reduce air service under paragraph (a) shall file a notice of such proposed reduction in service at least 90 days prior to such service reduction, in accordance with the procedures specified in §§323.4, 323.6, and 323.7 of this chapter. (c) The notice shall be served on the President and the designated Authorities of the Freely Associated State concerned, in addition to the persons specified in §323.7. (d) The procedures specified in §§323.9–323.18, to the extent applicable to 90-day notices filed by certificated air carriers, shall also be applicable to notices of terminations, suspensions or reductions in service filed under this section. [Amdt. No. 272–1, 52 FR 5443, Feb. 23, 1987, as amended at 60 FR 43525, Aug. 22, 1995] (a) If the Department finds that a proposed termination, suspension, or reduction in service by an air carrier or Freely Associated State Air Carrier will, or may, reduce service to an eligible Freely Associated State place below the level of essential air service to such place, whether or not the Department has previously determined the level of essential air service to such place, the Department may direct the air carrier or Freely Associated State Air Carrier concerned to maintain service to such place at a level the Department determines will ensure essential air service to such place, pending the commencement of alternative service as required to maintain the level of essential air service previously, or thereafter, determined by the Department. (b) During any period the Department requires an air carrier or Freely Associated State Air Carrier to maintain a level of service proposed to be terminated, suspended or reduced, following the filing of a 90 day notice in accordance with §272.7, the Department will provide for the payment of compensation to such carrier for any losses incurred by that carrier as a result of such required continuation of service in accordance with the procedures set forth in part 271 of this chapter. If the carrier is already receiving compensation pursuant to §272.9 of this part, the Department will continue to direct payment of such compensation during any period the carrier is required to maintain service. Such payments shall be made by the Department of Interior from funds appropriated for this purpose. (c) The Department will review its order from time to time and will revise the level of required service as necessary to maintain only the level of essential air service determined by the Department for that place, considering all other service to such place in accordance with §272.6(a)(3). (d) During the period any such air carrier or Freely Associated State Air Carrier is required to maintain service under this section, the Department will make every effort to obtain alternative service, with compensation if necessary, as required to maintain essential air service to such place. [Amdt. No. 272–1, 52 FR 5443, Feb. 23, 1987, as amended at 60 FR 43525, Aug. 22, 1995] (a) If the Department finds that essential air service will not be maintained to an eligible Freely Associated State place, the Department shall invite applications to provide the service required to maintain essential air service to such place. (b) If the Department determines that essential air service will not be provided to such place in the absence of the payment of subsidy compensation to a carrier or carriers, the Department shall determine the compensation necessary, considering all other service to such place in accordance with §272.6(a)(3), to maintain the level of essential air service determined by the Department under §272.5, and the times and manner of the payment of such compensation. (c) The compensation determined by the Department to be necessary to maintain essential air service to such place shall be paid by the Department of Interior out of funds appropriated for that purpose, to the carrier or carriers selected by the Department. (d) The Department shall continue to specify compensation to be paid to a carrier or carriers under this section only as long as the Department determines that essential air service will not be provided to the Freely Associated State in the absence of the payment of such compensation. (e) Except as permitted in paragraph (f) of this section, the Department shall select a U.S. air carrier or carriers to provide essential air service for compensation. (f) The Department may select a Freely Associated State Air Carrier, holding a foreign air carrier permit issued in accordance with subpart D of part 211 of this chapter, to provide essential air service for compensation, only if— (1) No U.S. air carrier is available to provide the required essential air service; or (2) The compensation necessary for the provision of the required essential air service would be substantially less than the compensation necessary if such essential air service were to be provided by a U.S. air carrier. (g) Any order of the Department selecting a Freely Associated State Air Carrier to provide such essential air service shall be submitted to the President of the United States not less than 10 days prior to its effective date and shall be subject to stay or disapproval by the President. (h) Among the criteria that will be considered by the Department in its determination of the carrier or carriers to be selected to perform the required essential air service are: (1) The desirability of developing an integrated linear system of air transportation whenever such a system most adequately meets the air transportation needs of the Freely Associated States concerned; (2) The experience of the applicant in providing scheduled air service in the vicinity of the Freely Associated States for which essential air service is proposed to be provided; (3) The amount of compensation that will be required to provide the proposed essential air service; (4) The impact of the proposed service on service provided to other Freely Associated State points; and (5) The views of the Governments of the Freely Associated States concerned. (i) The Department may from time to time, on its own motion, or upon application of any carrier or government, review and change its selection of a carrier to provide essential air service, or its determination as to the compensation necessary to provide such essential air service. (j) All applications or other documents filed or issued in proceedings under this section shall be served upon the President of the Freely Associated State concerned and the Authorities designated by that Government(s) in accordance with Article II, paragraph 10, of the Federal Programs and Services Agreement supplemental to the Compact of Free Association, and such Government shall be a party to any such proceeding. In reaching its determination, the Department will carefully consider any views of such Government that have been submitted. [Amdt. No. 272–1, 52 FR 5443, Feb. 23, 1987, as amended at 60 FR 43525, Aug. 22, 1995] (a) The Department may, after providing an opportunity for comment by the carrier or carriers affected, impose service, fare or rate conditions on any U.S., Freely Associated State, foreign air carrier, or foreign carrier by air as a precondition to the payment of compensation necessary to maintain essential air service, whether or not the affected carrier is itself receiving subsidy compensation in the market, if it finds that: (1) Essential air service in a Freely Associated State market or markets will not be provided in the absence of the payment of compensation; (2) Specified service, rate or fare conditions are or will be necessary or desirable to minimize the required subsidy compensation; and (3) The imposition of such conditions will not unduly impair the service provided in the market. (b) To the extent the carrier or carriers upon whom the conditions are imposed pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section do not hold a certificate, permit, or other authority from the Department that may be amended to effectively implement the specified conditions, the Department may notify the Government(s) of the Freely Associated States concerned that the imposition of such conditions on those carriers by those Governments shall be a precondition to the payment of the subsidy compensation required to maintain essential air service in the market in question. (c) The Department may withhold or suspend its provision for the payment of subsidy compensation required to maintain essential air service unless and until the Freely Associated State(s) concerned take the necessary action to impose the specified conditions on the carriers referred to in paragraph (b) of this section, and those carriers have complied with the specified conditions. (d) Any order of the Department imposing conditions, or requiring the imposition of conditions, pursuant to this paragraph shall be submitted to the President for review not less than 10 days prior to its effective date, and shall be subject to stay or disapproval by the President. [Amdt. No. 272–1, 52 FR 5443, Feb. 23, 1987, as amended at 60 FR 43525, Aug. 22, 1995] The provisions of this part shall not become effective for Palau until the Compact of Free Association and Article IX of the Federal Programs and Services Agreement become effective for Palau. These provisions shall terminate on October 1, 1998, unless the program of essential air service to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau is specifically extended by Congress. This amendment is issued under the authority of 49 CFR 1.57(l). [Amdt. 272–2, 56 FR 1732, Jan. 7, 1991, as amended at 60 FR 43525, Aug. 22, 1995]
Title 14: Aeronautics and Space
PART 272—ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE TO THE FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES
Section Contents
§ 272.1 Purpose.
§ 272.2 Applicability.
§ 272.3 Places eligible for guaranteed essential air service.
§ 272.4 Applicability of procedures and policies under 49 U.S.C. 41731–42.
§ 272.5 Determination of essential air service.
§ 272.6 Considerations in the determination of essential air service.
§ 272.7 Notice of discontinuance of service.
§ 272.8 Obligation to continue service.
§ 272.9 Selection of a carrier to provide essential air service and payment of compensation.
§ 272.10 Conditions applicable to carriers serving a subsidized market.
§ 272.11 Effective date of provisions.
§ 272.12 Termination.
§ 272.1 Purpose.
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§ 272.2 Applicability.
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§ 272.3 Places eligible for guaranteed essential air service.
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§ 272.4 Applicability of procedures and policies under 49 U.S.C. 41731–42.
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§ 272.5 Determination of essential air service.
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§ 272.6 Considerations in the determination of essential air service.
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§ 272.7 Notice of discontinuance of service.
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§ 272.8 Obligation to continue service.
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§ 272.9 Selection of a carrier to provide essential air service and payment of compensation.
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§ 272.10 Conditions applicable to carriers serving a subsidized market.
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§ 272.11 Effective date of provisions.
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§ 272.12 Termination.
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