-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 aTiHEQfME5YvnQ+bKZs4oA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-10-001646.txt : 20100129
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-10-001646.hdr.sgml : 20100129
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100129125801
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-10-001646
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100127
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100129
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100129

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VOSS DOUGLAS G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000938547

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23224
		FILM NUMBER:		10556709

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		GREAT LAKES AVIATION LTD
		STREET 2:		7900 XERXES AVE SOUTH
		CITY:			BLOOMINGTON
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55431

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GREAT LAKES AVIATION LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000914397
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	AIR TRANSPORTATION, SCHEDULED [4512]
		IRS NUMBER:				411135319
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1022 AIRPORT DRIVE
		CITY:			CHEYENNE
		STATE:			WY
		ZIP:			82001
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3074324000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1022 AIRPORT DRIVE
		CITY:			CHEYENNE
		STATE:			WY
		ZIP:			82001
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-01-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000914397</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GREAT LAKES AVIATION LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GLUX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000938547</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VOSS DOUGLAS G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>GREAT LAKES AVIATION, LTD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1022 AIRPORT DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHEYENNE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>82001</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and Chairman</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-01-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>44247</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.13</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1260247</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Iowa Great Lakes Flyers, Inc.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2450000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1870753</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Irrevocable Proxy</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Doug Voss and Gayle R. Brandt have entered into a Shareholder Buy-Sell Agreement dated June 28, 1996, as amended (the &quot;Buy-Sell Agreement&quot;), with respect to all the shares owned by Gayle R. Brandt.  These shares were purchased pursuant to the right of Gayle R. Brandt under the Buy-Sell Agreement to require Doug Voss to purchase shares owned by Gayle R. Brandt for a share price to be negotiated or at market price, up to a total purchase amount not to exceed $50,000 per year, and a Stock Purchase Agreement dated January 27, 2010.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Douglas G. Voss</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-01-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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