14 C.F.R. PART 325—ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE PROCEDURES
Title 14 - Aeronautics and Space
Authority: 49 U.S.C. Chapters 401, 417.
Source: Docket No. 82, 50 FR 2434, Jan. 16, 1985, unless otherwise noted.
The purpose of this part is to establish procedures to be followed in designating eligible points and in determining essential air transportation levels for eligible points, and in the appeals and periodic reviews of these determinations, under section 419 of the Act. This part applies to essential air service determinations for communities designated as eligible under section 419(a) of the Act and to eligible point designations and essential air service determinations for communities that qualify under section 419(b) of the Act. It applies to the gathering of data by the Department, and to the participation of State, local, and other officials and other interested persons in the designation and determination processes. Note: Criteria for designating eligible points under section 419(b) are contained in part 270 of this chapter. Guidelines for deciding essential air service levels are contained in part 398 of this chapter. As used in this part, eligible point means: (a) Any point in the United States, the District of Columbia, and the several territories and possessions of the United States to which any direct air carrier was authorized, under a certificate issued by CAB under section 401 of the Act, to provide air service on October 24, 1978, whether or not such service was actually provided; (b) Any point in the United States and the several territories and possessions of the United States that was deleted from a section 401 certificate between July 1, 1968 and October 24, 1978, inclusive, and that has been designated as an eligible point under the Act; or (c) Any other point in Alaska or Hawaii that has been designated as an eligible point under the Act. (a) DOT, on a periodic basis, will send a questionnaire to each eligible point that is served by not more than one certificated air carrier, or is designated as an eligible point under section 419(b) of the Act, or for which DOT is reviewing its essential air service needs. The questionnaire will be addressed to: (1) The chief executive of the principal city, or other unit of local government at the affected point, that is named or has been previously named in a qualifying section 401 certificate. For points in Alaska or Hawaii that are named DOT as eligible points without having been listed on a section 401 certificate, the principal city is the most populous municipality at the point; (2) The individual or entity with direct supervision over and responsibility for the airport at the eligible point; and (3) The State agency with jurisdiction over air transportation in the State containing the eligible point. If there is no such State agency, the questionnaire will be sent to the governor of that State. (b) Within 60 days after receipt of the questionnaire, five copies of the response shall be filed in the Documentary Services Division, unless the Department specifies another date. If no response is received within the period, essential air service for that eligible point may temporarily be set at the minimum level prescribed in section 419(f) of the Act. (c) Any other interested person may, during the 60-day response period, submit information relevant to the essential air service level of that eligible point by filing in the Documentary Services Division, five copies of a document titled with the name of the point involved. (d) As necessary, the DOT may request additional information to supplement the questionnaire. (a) Not later than October 24, 1979, after reviewing all information submitted, CAB issued determinations of the essential level of air service for eligible points that, on October 24, 1978, were served by not more than one direct air carrier holding a certificate under section 401 of the Act for scheduled service to the point. (b) DOT will issue a determination of the essential level of air service for a point within 6 months after each of the following events: (1) A notice is received that service to an eligible point will be reduced to only one carrier that holds a section 401 certificate; (2) A point is designated as an eligible point under section 419(b) of the Act and either paragraph (c) of this section, paragraph (d) of this section, or §325.7(e); or (3) A review was conducted of essential air service of that point under §325.6. (c) Not later than January 1, 1982, CAB designated the communities described in §270.2(a) and (b) as eligible points or as ineligible. (d) After January 1, 1982, DOT may designate communities in Alaska or Hawaii as eligible points if they apply for such designation. (a) The Department will start a periodic review of essential air service within 1 year of the date of the previous determination of essential air service for eligible points receiving subsidized service, within 2 years of the date of the previous determination for eligible points in Alaska, and within 3 years of the date of the previous determination for eligible points without subsidized air service. (b) The review shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures in §§325.4, 325.5 and 325.7. (c) The Department may review the designation under section 419(b) of a community as an eligible point to determine whether that point continues to meet the criteria in part 270 of this chapter. (a) Any person may file with DOT a petition titled “Petition for Modification of Essential Air Service Level,” asking to modify the essential air service level at a point. (b) The petition shall identify the point affected, and specifically state the reasons why the petitioner believes the designated essential level is inadequate. It should contain any facts and arguments that support its requests, and describe the level of essential air service that should be substituted. (c) Any person may, within 30 days after the filing of a petition for modification, file an answer to that petition titled “Answer to Petition for Modification.” (d) After review, the Department may seek more information and the procedures of §§325.5 and 325.7 will be followed. All documents filed under this part shall be filed in the Documentary Services Division, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590, and on their front page state: (a) The title of the document; (b) The name of the affected community; (c) The name, address, and telephone number of a person who can be contacted for further information concerning the subject of the document; and (d) In the case of a responsive document, the docket number of the document to which it responds. Any person, except one filing individually as a consumer, who files a document under this part, including responses to the questionnaire, shall serve that document upon those listed in §325.4(a) of this part and upon the following: (a) The governor of the State in which the eligible point is located; (b) Each air carrier providing scheduled service to the affected eligible point; (c) In the case of a responsive document, the one who filed the document to which it responds; and (d) The U.S. Postal Service, Assistant General Counsel, Transportation Division, Law Department, Washington, D.C. 20260. Notwithstanding any provision of part 312 or part 313 of this chapter, a person filing a petition or appeal under this part is not required to file an environmental evaluation or energy information with the application. Except where they are inconsistent, the provisions of subpart A of part 302 of this chapter shall apply to proceedings under this part.
Title 14: Aeronautics and Space
PART 325—ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE PROCEDURES
Section Contents
§ 325.1 Purpose.
§ 325.2 Applicability.
§ 325.3 Definitions.
§ 325.4 State and local participation.
§ 325.5 Determinations and designations.
§ 325.6 Periodic reviews.
§§ 325.7-325.9 [Reserved]
§ 325.10 Modification of the designated level of essential air service.
§ 325.11 Form of documents.
§ 325.12 Service of documents.
§ 325.13 Environmental evaluations and energy information not required.
§ 325.14 Conformity with subpart A of part 302.
§ 325.1 Purpose.
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§ 325.2 Applicability.
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§ 325.3 Definitions.
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§ 325.4 State and local participation.
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§ 325.5 Determinations and designations.
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§ 325.6 Periodic reviews.
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§§ 325.7-325.9 [Reserved]
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§ 325.10 Modification of the designated level of essential air service.
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§ 325.11 Form of documents.
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§ 325.12 Service of documents.
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§ 325.13 Environmental evaluations and energy information not required.
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§ 325.14 Conformity with subpart A of part 302.
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