CHEYENNE (AP) - Public funding would be needed in order for Wyoming to land intrastate air service among its cities and towns, a report concluded.

"To achieve success in this endeavor, intrastate air service should be viewed as public transportation or as a public utility," the Wyoming Intrastate Air Service Concept report said.

The study found that intrastate air service would be too risky for any private company to undertake.

The report was prepared by the Wyoming Department of Transportation's Aeronautics Division and David Thomas, an aviation consultant who works for the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

One proposal suggests linking nine of the 10 commercial airports in the state by using Casper as a centralized hub. Nearly three-quarters of the state's population lives within 30 miles of these airports.

WYDOT suggests that daily flights in the early morning and late afternoon would cut down on travel time along the state's highways, particularly during the winter when some roads are subject to closure.

The Legislature's Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Interim Committee asked WYDOT to compile the report. Although the study concludes more work is needed to explore the service, it is likely to get some attention in the upcoming session of the Legislature.

"It will certainly be addressed at the legislative session, and they'll decide whether to move forward with it then," said Amber Schlabs, aviation business and marketing manager for the Aeronautics Division.

The amount of public dollars needed to fund intrastate air service for the nine airports varies according to the types of aircraft and number of passengers who pay to fly within the state.

In what the report identifies as the most likely scenario, an estimated $8.5 million a year would be needed to operate five 19-seat Beechcraft 1900 planes. If each flight was at 33 percent of capacity, $4.4 million in revenue could be generated, leaving the state to fund $4.1 million.

Using the same planes at just over 60 percent capacity, the state estimates it could come less than $350,000 from breaking even, based on projected revenues. A profit of $1.5 million could be turned if the planes flew at 75 percent capacity, the report shows.

The up-front cost of buying the five Beechcraft 1900s would be $12.5 million.

Another scenario links Jackson, Rock Springs, Gillette, Casper and Cheyenne. That would give about half of the state's population access to the service.

Along with estimated fares, the report compares overall travel expenses between flying and driving.

For example, when the cost of mileage, a hotel room, additional travel time and other company expenditures is factored in, the report suggests an individual traveler from Cheyenne would pay almost $890 to drive to two scheduled meetings on the same day in Jackson.

Round-trip air fare could be $500 per person. That figure does not include any other expenses, such as a rental car.

According to WYDOT, Cheyenne-based Great Lakes Airlines offers the only existing intrastate commercial air service in the state. The airline flies between Worland and Laramie and then continues on to Denver.

Worland Municipal Airport was not included in the study.