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Department of Transportation gives tentative go-head for daily flights from Youngstown to Chicago
By Ed Runyan
VIENNA
The U.S. Department of Transportation issued an order Monday stating that Aerodynamics Inc., the airline proposing daily flights between Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport and Chicago O’Hare International, is “fit, willing and able” to begin the service.
There will be a 14-day period during which individuals may comment on whether the government’s order should become final or not. Then there will be a seven-day period for ADI to respond.
“If no substantive objections are filed, we will issue an order that will make final our tentative findings and conclusions,” the order says.
“This has been a long time coming,” but “worth the wait,” said Dan Dickten, aviation director at Youngstown-Warren. Dickten said he believes the 10 round trips per week on a 50-seat aircraft will be a “much-needed daily air service for the Mahoning Valley.”
“It’s been a long process, and it looks like we’re nearing the end, so we’re grateful for that,” said Mickey Bowman, vice president of airline services for ADI.
Dickten said he’s hoping the service will begin April 1.
“This connects the Mahoning Valley to the rest of the world,” Dickten said, adding that the biggest benefit will be to business travelers. “It should have quite a positive economic impact on the community.”
If the DOT gives final approval, called a certificate of public convenience and necessity, it will be the first time the airport has had daily air service since 2002.
Dickten said the “very thorough,” 18-month investigation of ADI that the DOT and Federal Aviation Administration carried out are evidence that the company is capable of providing the flights.
One reason the application took 18 months is because the DOT learned in November 2014 that the former owner and CEO of ADI, Scott Beale, had been found by a federal judge to have committed fraud while soliciting funds for ADI from an investor.
The DOT also found Beale’s actions indicated a “disregard for the law.” Beale sold the company to ADI Acquisition Co., owned by Portland, Ore., real-estate developer John Beardsley and his wife, Janet, in July 2015. The Beardsleys also own 80 percent of SeaPort Airlines of Portland, which does business as Wings of Alaska.
ADI has a corporate office in Beachwood, Ohio, and an operations office in Kennesaw, Ga.
Monday’s DOT order says ADI is currently operating charter flights using two 50-seat Embraer aircraft. A third 50-seat Embraer aircraft will be leased to provide the Youngstown flights. ADI operates under the direction of CEO Robert L. McKinney, who has been president and CEO of SeaPort since 2007.
“In view of the experience and background of the applicant’s key personnel, we tentatively conclude that ADI has demonstrated that it has the management skills and technical ability to conduct its proposed [Youngstown] services,” the DOT said.
In discussing its investigation into ADI’s fitness, the DOT order listed a lawsuit involving John Beardsley’s real-estate company that is pending, and two pending FAA investigations involving SeaPort. It mentioned that a Wings of Alaska/SeaPort Cessna carrying four passengers and a pilot crashed July 15, 2015, killing one person.
Should a National Transportation Safety Board investigation of the crash turn up anything adverse, the DOT has the ability to take another look at the ability to offer the Youngstown flights, the DOT order says.
The DOT and FAA have investigated ADI regarding anonymous allegations that were made to the DOT regarding the company’s safety, and the FAA “advises [the DOT] it has no objection” to the DOT’s allowing ADI to begin daily Youngstown service, the order says.
The port authority is offering a $1.2 million revenue guarantee to ADI to ensure it makes a profit during the startup phase of the service. Of the $1.2 million, $780,000 was awarded by the DOT several years ago to help the airport attract daily air service. The other $420,000 is hotel-motel lodging tax money that comes into the port authority from Mahoning and Trumbull counties.
YNGAir Partners, a nonprofit organization founded to assist Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport in marketing and air-service development efforts, also will provide $130,000.
“I think it will be great for the business traveler or the family that wants to go for the weekend,” said Dan Polivka, a Trumbull County commissioner. “I’m excited about it, and look forward to using it myself,” he said, noting he enjoys the restaurants and other attractions in Chicago, such as two major league baseball teams.
Ron Klingle, chairman of the Western Reserve Port Authority, which runs the airport, said he thinks the service will be “one of the best things that’s happened in our community,” and he thanked Dickten, U.S. Rep Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, and U.S. Sen. Rob Portman for “all of their hard work” on the project.
Klingle said it’s time to “get the word out” on the convenience, time savings and reduced parking cost of flying out of Youngstown.
The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber has supported the service from the start of ADI’s interest in bringing it here.
“It’s a good tool for us to have at our fingertips,” said Sarah Boyarko, the chamber’s senior vice president of economic development. “For any of the companies who look to come to the Valley, airline services with daily flights is a plus. Without having this, we have missed out on opportunities. This will make the area stronger.”