Civil Aviation Official Comments on

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 006297 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EB/TRA, EUR/SE, NEA/NGA ROME FOR FAA PARIS FOR TSA TREASURY FOR OASIA DEPT PLEASE PASS EXIMBANK SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR BEXP TU SUBJECT: Civil Aviation Official Comments on Safety/Security and Turkish Airlines' Procurement Plans REF: State 261967 Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Topa Toker, Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA),told us that the Transport and Communications Minister is very interested in achieving high standards for aviation safety and security, and in maintaining a cooperative relationship with USG aviation authorities. He suggested that the FAA Administrator forward a copy of FAA's safety review to Minister Yildirim as a means of maintaining positive momentum on this issue. We also raised the Cape Town and Montreal Conventions and American Airlines' codeshare application. End Summary. Safety and Security -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On October 3, we delivered an August 29 letter from Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Assistant Administrator Michael Robinson summarizing TSA's 2002 review of security at Ataturk International SIPDIS Airport in Istanbul, and noted that a TSA team would conduct another assessment during the week of October ¶10. ¶3. (SBU) Toker said that Transport Minister Binali Yildirim had become much more engaged in safety and security issues following his meetings with the Secretary of Transportation and the FAA Administrator in SIPDIS Washington last month. The Minister is eager to maintain a cooperative relationship with the FAA and TSA. Toker told us that the Minister called him SIPDIS following his (the Minister's) meeting with the Ambassador on October 1 (septel) to ensure that DGCA fully cooperates with the TSA team. ¶3. (SBU) Toker told us that DGCA is working on a bill to administratively reform the agency and will submit it to the Minister in the next several weeks. He expects the Minister to endorse it, but stated that FAA's support for the reform effort would be helpful. In particular, he suggested that the FAA Administrator send a letter to the Transport and Communications Minister transmitting a copy of FAA's report on air safety issues. Cape Town Convention -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Econoff and Econ Specialist inquired as to the status of Turkish ratification efforts for the Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment on Matters Specific to Aircraft Equipment. Econoff explained that ratification could enable Turkish Airlines (THY) to qualify for a lower exposure fee if it were to seek U.S. Eximbank financing for a possible purchase of Boeing aircraft. Toker said he would look into the ratification question. He opined that THY might purchase or lease new airplanes, but the number of planes was likely to fall far short of 50. Note: THY told visiting Eximbank Board Member April Foley in September that THY might acquire as many as 50 new aircraft. End Note. We also requested information on the ratification process from MFA's Aviation Department, but have not yet received a response. American Airlines' (AA's) New Codeshare -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Econoff raised AA's application for a codeshare with British Airways (BA) on BA flights between London and Istanbul. Toker responded that DGCA was aware of the request, but that AA had yet to file a complete application. Montreal Convention -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Econoff delivered ref A points urging Turkey to join the Montreal Convention on airline accident liability. Edelman