IRAQI FALCON 50: JORDAN READY TO HAND IT OVER ONCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 003432

SIPDIS

TREASURY FOR ZARATE AND LINARDI
CPA FOR TRENT, CASTLE AND VARDAMAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2014
TAGS: EAIR ETTC IZ JO SZ
SUBJECT: IRAQI FALCON 50: JORDAN READY TO HAND IT OVER ONCE
REGISTRATION IS RESOLVED AND OUTSTANDING FEES ARE PAID

REF: A. BERN 00434


B. AMMAN 01214

C. STATE 95216

Classified By: CDA DHale:Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Jordan's Director General of Civil
Aviation said that the Iraqi Falcon 50 which has been parked
at Marka Airport for the past year could be turned over to
Iraq once several issues are resolved. These include the
fees charged for the aircraft, the need for the aircraft to
be re-registered, and the need for an airworthiness
certificate before the plane can be moved. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) On May 4, visiting CPA official John Vardaman met
with Hanna Najjar, Director General of the Jordan Civil
Aviation Authority (JCAB) to discuss the Iraqi Falcon 50
which has been parked at Marka Airport since March 19, 2003.
Najjar agreed that the aircraft was an "Iraqi asset" although
it was registered in Liechtenstein and said he had agreed to
a CPA and U.S. Embassy request not to move the plane. He
said there was still some confusion about the registration
since Iraqi authorities had told him the plane was registered
in Sierra Leone. Najjar said the plane must be de-registered
before it can be released. In addition, the GOJ is owed fees
for parking the aircraft for over a year, fees that amount to
"tens of thousands" of Jordanian dinars. Najjar said that
under ICAO regulations, because of the registration, the
plane must be flown by a Swiss-licensed crew and if the Swiss
ask for the plane, "we will give it to them."


3. (C) Najjar would need a letter from Liechtenstein saying
that ownership of the plane has been transferred and that is
has been de-registered. CPA must also clear any
re-registration. Once Jordan receives this letter from
Liechtenstein confirming that the plane has been
de-registered and identifying the new owner, Jordan will
still require formal approval from the CPA designating the
plane as an Iraqi asset as well as a note from the Embassy
saying that the Embassy does not oppose the transfer. In
addition, a letter proposing release of the aircraft must be
approved by the Jordanian Ministry of Transport. However,
this can be done while the re-registration is pending.


4. (C) In addition to being re-registered, the aircraft
will need an airworthiness certificate before it can be
moved. Najjar was uncertain as to whether the JCAB had
anyone technically qualified to certify Falcons. Iraq would
have to send an inspector to register the plane if the plane
is to be registered in Iraq. However, if the plane were to
be registered in Jordan, a Jordanian inspector would suffice.


5. (C) Once this process was complete, all the outstanding
fees generated by the aircraft must be paid Najjar was unsure
whether there were additional handling charges due Royal
Wings as well. Najjar concluded that this entire process
could be completed within four or five weeks if all the
documentation was complete.


6. (U) This message was cleared by Vardaman prior to
departure.
HALE