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Boyd Group
International, Inc.
Advisors to the Aviation Industry
Since 1984

78 Beaver Brook Canyon Road
Evergreen, Colorado, 80439
303-674-2000
Fax: 303-674-9995
aviation-info@aviationplanning.com

2009 SCASD Grant Program

Update: The US DOT has advised us that the 2009 Grant awards will be announced in the middle of December.

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Future Uncertain

It is uncertain whether there will be a 2010 SCASD program. In 2008, it was believed that the program would not be renewed in 2009, leading the DOT to withhold several million dollars from awards in order to have funds to administer previous grants.

But the program was renewed. We are not confident about next year, however. 

Background Of The Program -
Renewed Or Not, Our Clients Have Done Better

Since the inception of the SCASD program in 2002, Boyd Group International has assisted its clients in capturing over 25% of the total grant dollars awarded - far more than any other consultant. The reason is that we are expert at identifying air service trends and crafting innovative applications to meet those trends.

In addition, Boyd Group International has been far more successful that any other consultant in turning grant awards into real air service improvements. The reason is that we guide our clients toward grant requests that fit the realities of the airline industry and the strategies of carriers themselves. We help our clients focus on grant applications that ultimately will turn into airport ribbon-cuttings.

No Hail Mary Passes. If the program is renewed in 2010, we'll let our clients know immediately. From that point, we'll discuss whether a SCASD grant is a) a viable option, and b) whether there's a strong chance of success in gaining the objective of the grant, should it be awarded.

Unlike some other consultants, we do not waste clients' money applying for grants for purposes that realistically will never come about. For example, a small community that has a difficult time filling 30% of EAS seats on a short turboprop flight to a nearby hub has absolutely no chance whatsoever in convincing Delta to start flying RJs into its capacity-valuable Atlanta hub. Or, a SCASD grant to attract an "unspecified" (read: non-existent) carrier to offer three flights to Boston from a completely unserved airport, when an EAS city 35 minutes away attracts less then 10 passengers a day with exactly that pattern of service. There are more examples where communities got misled into paying good money for pipedream grant applications.

Applying for a grant, even if it is awarded, is a waste of time when from the gitgo when airline realities rule out any such use. But it's what happens when consultants lose sight of what the real objective is. Or, perhaps, when individuals are paid on commission, based on how many projects they can bring in, regardless of whether the grant makes sense.

Over the years, we've often advised clients and potential clients that filing an application is not recommended. This could be due to DOT rules, or due to lack of a clear objective, or the lack of potential for meeting the objective, even if the grant is awarded. In any case, our clients will confirm that when you deal with Boyd Group International you always get direct, professional consulting help.

In 2009, Boyd Group International turned down more SCASD grant projects than it accepted. The reason was that we could not find where the grant could be successfully used, even if awarded.

More Success Than Any Other Consultant
In Translating SCASD Grants
Into Additional Air Service
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Since the inception of the Small Community Air Service Development Program, The Boyd Group has been more successful than any other consultant in assisting clients in winning air service grants. Well over $23 million.

Not only that, but we've been more successful, too, in helping communities actually turn their grants into viable additional air service - including some communities who used other consultants to originally prepare their application.  

Take A Look...

Note that these are just some of the communities that we've helped so far in translating SCASD dollars into better air service. We're currently in progress with a number of other clients in building better air service with their grants. Read on - and then give us a call.

Durango, Colorado. The Boyd Group worked with the community in crafting a SCASD strategy that would attract additional Eastbound service. The grant was awarded, and Delta Air Lines service was recruited to its Salt Lake City hub. The carrier initiated operations based on the SCASD grant. The DOT, unfortunately, eventually later reneged on awarding the grant for Delta service on the technicality that the service to the hub went north to access eastbound flights. (Strange, but true.)

Sarasota/Bradenton, Florida: The $1.5 million grant - the second-highest in the program's history - also represents the greatest success. After helping the community win the grant award, The Boyd Group worked with SRQ to attract low-fare AirTran service to Atlanta. This has since incubated additional LCC service, resulting in enplanement levels jumping 55% between 2002 and 2006.

Binghamton, New York: Enhanced westbound and international connectivity was accomplished using grant funds to support upgraded capacity to Northwest’s Detroit hub. Traffic analyses by The Boyd Group were a central part of the data used to attract this service.

Lewiston, Idaho: After having won their grant, the community looked for a consultant that could best showcase their need for access to the East. The Boyd Group was chosen, and the result is successful service to Delta’s Salt Lake City hub that has eliminated this deficiency.

Fresno, California: The Boyd Group helped the community win a $1 million grant, which was then used to negotiate new low-fare service to Frontier’s Denver hub.

Erie, Pennsylvania: Their grant was applied toward implementation of new service to Philadelphia and seasonal service to Charlotte via US Airways. The Boyd Group worked with the community in crafting presentations and assisting in negotiations with the carrier.

Latrobe, Pennsylvania: After working with the community to win their grant, The Boyd Group developed presentations and data that convinced Northwest Airlink to enter the market, re-establishing flights at a community that had earlier lost all scheduled service.

Charleston, West Virginia: The Boyd Group identified a specific need for service to Houston on the part of the local petro-chemical industries, and after the grant was awarded, the firm provided data to convince Continental to enter the market from its hub at Houston Intercontinental.

Lynchburg, Virginia: The grant that The Boyd Group helped the community win has been used to successfully incubate an upgrade to jet service by Delta Connection to Atlanta.

Chattanooga, Tennessee: A successful grant assisted Continental in implementing RJ service to IAH

Rhinelander, Wisconsin: The Boyd Group worked with Northwest in crafting a program to increase capacity at this community. Subsequent to completing negotiations and initiation of the new service, traffic levels increased over 20%. In 2007, The Boyd Group assisted RHI in winning a second SCASD grant.

Kalamazoo/Battle Creek, Michigan: After assisting AZO in winning their SCASD grant, The Boyd Group completed comprehensive analyses that convinced Delta Air Lines to implement nonstop RJ service to Atlanta.

Muskegon, Michigan: Working closely with the community, a program was accomplished that convinced Northwest to upgrade service by adding RJs into the schedule to Detroit/Metro.

Tupelo, Mississippi: After being awarded a grant, the community turned to The Boyd Group, which identified significant potential traffic flows – both domestic and international – that induced Delta to enter the market with new RJ flights to Atlanta.

Shreveport, Louisiana: The Boyd Group identified emerging automotive industry traffic flows in the region, which Northwest found to be highly valuable to its Detroit hub. The resulting nonstop SHV-DTW service was so successful that the grant was shifted to upgrading capacity to Memphis.

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The point again: The Boyd Group has had more success than any other consulting in both developing winning applications and in working to use them to build better air service.

If the program is renewed in 2010, we'd be honored to assist with your airport's air service development needs. We'll give you the straight facts - if there's a chance for SCASD Grant success, we'll discuss it. If not, we won't hesitate to outline the reasons.

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