GHANA FLIGHT DEPARTS FOR U.S. DESPITE FAA BAN

UNCLAS ACCRA 001550

SIPDIS

DEPT PLEASE PASS TO FAA
SENEGAL PLEASE PASS TO ED JONES

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR GH
SUBJECT: GHANA FLIGHT DEPARTS FOR U.S. DESPITE FAA BAN

REF: STATE 160345


1. Per reftel, DCM Jerry Lanier met today with the Director
General of Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA),Captain
(Ret.) Joseph Boachie to hand deliver the letter and the
accompanying talking points. Boachie accepted that the FAA
would be sending a reassessment team and asked that we keep
him informed of the specific dates. Boachie also informed
the DCM that the Ghana Airways plane for which the FAA had
blocked landing rights, had left for the U.S. this morning
(prior to being informed of its exclusion) and would arrive
at BWI at 4PM EST.

Demarche delivered
--------------

2. Using points per reftel, DCM Lanier raised USG concerns to
Boachie, pointed out that the FAA questioned some of the air
safety practices of the GCAA. Noting that the USG was aware
of the earlier ICAO audit, DCM averred that the concerns
should not come as a surprise, and that we wanted to work
constructively with the GoG and the GCCA to address the
shortfalls. DCM noted that we considered the meeting to
constitute consultations under the Article 6 of the
U.S.-Ghana Air Transport Agreement, and that the FAA would
like to do an assessment within 45 days of the meeting. DCM
also informed Boachie that Ed Jones from the FAA would be
here later this week to arrange the FAA reassessment.


3. DCM mentioned that the FAA has suspended landing rights
for a specific Ghana Airways DC-10, and made sure that
Boachie was aware of that action and would make sure that
Ghana Airways complied with it.


4. Boachie thanked the DCM for the information, and accepted
that he had been notified under Article 6 and that the GCAA
would cooperate with an FAA reaudit. He expressed some
surprise that the FAA would come so soon, but said they would
make every effort to cooperate.

DC-10 Departs for BWI
--------------

5. Regarding the Ghana Airways DC-10, Boachie said that it
had taken off early today before instructions not to leave
could be issued. Boachie said they had been in conversation
with the FAA after the plane's departure and expected that
the FAA would allow the plane to land. He also informed DCM
that the company which leases the plane to Ghana Airways had
written today to say that there was a misunderstanding about
the maintenance records and that all proper tests had been
done. He did not offer to share this letter.

YATES