SOTO CANO AIRBASE TO BECOME COMMERCIAL AIRPORT?

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TEGUCIGALPA 002444

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/PPC, WHA/CEN, EB/TRA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/12
TAGS: EAIR MARR PREL ECON ECIN HO
SUBJECT: SOTO CANO AIRBASE TO BECOME COMMERCIAL AIRPORT?

Classified by PolChief Francisco Palmieri, Reasons 1.5
(b) and (d)


1. (U) Summary: On August 15, President Maduro
announced his intention to convert the Soto Cano military
airstrip into an international airport for commercial
use. The Comayagua business community embraces the
concept, which seeks to transform the area into a new
commercial center with an eye toward bolstering a
flailing economy. Maduro reiterated that the airstrip
will continue to be used for military purposes and
suggested that U.S. authorities have already agreed to
the conversion--although no one at the Embassy has
discussed the matter with the Administration. At a
Comayagua Chamber of Commerce forum, Minister of
Government and Justice Jorge Ramon Hernandez Alcerro and
President of Congress Pepe Lobo extolled the benefits of
a conversion, giving this initiative high-level political
support. End Summary.

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THE U.S. PRESENCE
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2. (U) Since 1982 the U.S. military has shared the
airbase at Soto Cano (commonly known by Hondurans as
Palmerola--the name of the town previously located on the
site) with the Honduran Armed Forces (HOAF). Currently,
Joint Task Force Bravo (JTF-Bravo) is the guest of the
HOAF on the base; houses more than 600 U.S. troops; and
employs more than 700 Hondurans. Through salaries,
contracts, tourism and donations, JTF-Bravo contributes
approximately $17.5 million annually to the economy
(primarily in the Comayagua valley).


3. (SBU) JTF-Bravo's initial mission was to deter
Nicaraguan aggression--thereafter its duties included
regional counternarcotics, humanitarian and civic
assistance operations. Recently, USCINCSO appointed JTF-
Bravo as the central coordinating authority for U.S.
military operating within the region--including Honduras,
Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and
Panama. JTF-Bravo conducts joint, combined and
interagency operations, and supports contingency
operations throughout the assigned area to enhance
theater-wide operational security and reinforce regional
military cooperation.


4. (SBU) JTF-Bravo is the first responder to crises in
the region, and it conducts operations in support of
counternarcotics and counterterrorism missions.
Moreover, it conducts and supports recovery and
evacuation operations in Central America (CENTAM).
Additionally, the task force is charged with providing a
C-5 capable airfield (the only one of its kind in
Honduras),base support for joint combined exercises and
unit training, theater deployable surgical team, all-
source intelligence, operational footprint for immediate
reaction forces, and maintains pre-positioned stocks for
theater-wide military operations. Secondarily, JTF-Bravo
conducts and supports humanitarian civic assistance and
military civic action operations, supports USAID and
provides base support for joint combined exercise
training, exercises, and unit training.

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CONVERSION IN THE OFFING?
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5. (U) In mid-August, President Maduro announced that he
is considering the conversion of the airstrip at Soto
Cano, enabling the facility to be used by commercial
airlines. He was careful to make clear that the airstrip
would continue to be used for military operations. (Note:
Since the HOAF shares the base with the U.S. military,
the airstrip is also used by the HOAF. End Note.) Maduro
indicated that he wants an airport for the city of
Comayagua (the one-time capital of Honduras, adjacent to
Soto Cano) in order to strengthen the economy of the
Comayagua valley and create a new center for commercial
activity in Honduras.


6. (U) Maduro emphasized that if commercially available,
the airport could be extensively used for carrying cargo
for exportation--including mangos and other
produce(especially oriental vegetables, which require
special handling),tilapia, and cleaning products
produced in the area. Moreover, he opined that
commercialization of the facility would increase the
potential for industrial development in the region--
including "maquilas," which are currently found primarily
in the San Pedro Sula area. He also mentioned the
possibility of constructing a four-lane highway from
Comayagua to Puerto Cortes (on the north coast) and
between Tegucigalpa and Comayagua. (Comment: A new
international airport in Comayagua and highway to the
capital could prompt U.S. air carriers to provide cargo
and passenger services in central Honduras. Currently,
such service is restricted at Toncontin Airport in
Tegucigalpa due to limits on the size of planes that can
safely land there. However, post notes that construction
of a four-lane highway between Comayagua and Tegucigalpa
is highly unlikely in the near future given the high cost
and technical difficulties of building such a road. End
Comment.)

7. (U) The Comayaguan business community strongly favors
the conversion of the base airport to accommodate
commercial flights. The Comayagua Chamber of Commerce
and local authorities have developed specific plans for
such a conversion at Soto Cano.

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SUFFICIENT POLITICAL SUPPORT?
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8. (U) On August 22, the Comayagua Chamber of Commerce
hosted a forum in which the potential airport project was
discussed by local authorities and business people. Both
Minister of Government and Justice Jorge Ramon Hernandez
Alcerro and President of Congress Porfirio "Pepe" Lobo
Sosa attended the event and expressed support for the
project. Hernandez Alcerro described the project as the
realization of a vision for the future first conceived by
the Spanish conquistadors. He suggested that the region
is a natural commercial center due to both geography and
local economic interests. He pointed out that the
project would complement the Plan Puebla-Panama regional
economic integration and would further the goal of
uniting the region with a "backbone" for commercial
transportation. (Comment: The public support of high-
level, powerful political figures such as Hernandez
Alcerro and Lobo is indicative of the robust backing that
exists for the creation of a new international airport,
either in Comayagua or closer to Tegucigalpa. End
Comment.)


9. (U) Lobo said that he had no doubt that such a
project would be a success. Lobo stated that he is
confident that the natural resources, the climate and the
infrastructure of the Comayagua valley are conducive to
the success of a commercial airport component at
Palmerola. Additionally, he pointed out that it would
contribute to decentralization(a goal of Maduro),which
would relieve Tegucigalpa's problems with water shortages
and unmanageable population growth. Lobo pledged that
Congress would consider the project proposal and do
whatever is necessary to achieve the project objectives.
The Comayagua Chamber of Commerce is seeking a meeting
with President Maduro in the near future in order to
pursue the airport issue in depth.

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COMMENT
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10. (C) It is difficult to say what the ramifications of
a commercial airport would be to JTF-Bravo. The initial
readout of Post staff is that such a conversion would
probably have little effect on the U.S. military presence
at Soto Cano. In fact, an expansion of the runway
facilities could benefit JTF-Bravo by making it possible
for larger, fixed-wing aircraft to use the airbase. All
parties involved recognize that the U.S. military is
present at the invitation of the Honduran government, and
it is yet to be determined whether or not the U.S.
Department of Defense would have any objections to the
commercialization of the base airport.


11. (C) Presumably, a commercial terminal would be built
separate and apart from the military facilities.
Moreover, any such project would need to include careful
planning in order to not impede the military functions
that must be carried out at Soto Cano--both U.S. and
Honduran. A variety of security and safety issues would
be raised, including the appropriate level of air traffic
control that would be needed. Additionally, a combined
military-civilian airport raises security concerns and
costs--particularly in light of heightened worldwide
airport security that has been implemented since
September 11.


12. (C) Finally, there remain internal political issues
to be sorted out--including longstanding competition
between Tegucigalpa and Comayagua. Powerful business
interests in Tegucigalpa have not yet weighed in on the
issue publicly, and there is a heavyweight political
presence in the capital city and in San Pedro Sula that
can be expected to vehemently oppose shifting commercial
power to the Comayagua valley. Tegucigalpa Mayor Miguel
Pastor has already announced his opposition to the plan.
Post anticipates that domestic political and commercial
competition will affect the manner in which Maduro's
airport plans proceed.

ALMAGUER