SAFE SKIES: FAA/TSA EVALUATION VISIT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000449 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DAKAR FOR FAA REP E. JONES, ROME FOR TSA J. HALINSKI, BRUSSELS FOR FAA P. BARTKO AND T. GRAVELLE, NAIROBI FOR TSA K. JONES, STATE FOR AF/E, AF/RSA, AND EB, STATE ALSO PASS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND FAA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ECON ASEC ETRD DJ SUBJECT: SAFE SKIES: FAA/TSA EVALUATION VISIT REF: A. A) 2004 DJIBOUTI 1424 ¶B. B) 2004 DJIBOUTI 1288 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: A team of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials conducted the first Safe Skies for Africa evaluation visit for Djibouti from April 18 - 22. Djibouti's Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and Airport Management from Dubai Ports International (DPI) were positive about the visit despite the numerous recommendations for improvement made by the team. DPI officials were accepting and appreciative of the team's recommendations and are hopeful that Djibouti will in fact receive the assistance needed through Safe Skies and other programs to correct many of the outstanding issues. The team's initial findings showed a great need at the airport for training, equipment, sustainable resources, and basic written procedures, regulations and laws. The most important recommendation made was the creation of a law to grant DCAA oversight authority, provide funding and fiscal autonomy, regulations and the capability to enforce them. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) The team's observations of the DCAA was that though it had staff with great enthusiasm and potential, it had very little experience, background in civil aviation or knowledge of ICAO standards. The airport management, DPI, also had little knowledge of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. DCAA has little in the way of regulatory control over DPI management's activities at the airport. As an ICAO signatory, Djibouti's civil aviation authority should provide oversight of airport management. However, the existing law merely creates a Civil Aviation Authority, but does not breakdown the regulatory authority of this entity. According to conversations with DCAA, its budget is paid by DPI. Officials for DPI say that it does not fund DCAA but the budget it receives from DPI is money taken from airport profits, which go to the Government of Djibouti, and are then distributed to DCAA. Recommendations included the immediate creation and implementation of a regulatory law, fiscal autonomy, establishing a more effective oversight of airport operations, and training in ICAO standards. ¶3. (SBU) Cooperation between national intelligence services and airport security received a good review from the team, as well as some of the security measures for passenger screening. However, overall observations of program areas indicate they would not meet ICAO standards. Operations controls might meet standards, but standardization of passenger screening is needed. Recommendations were made to create a training plan, establish quality assurance of those trained, and the creation of an aviation security council to monitor the security needs of the airport. ¶4. (SBU) Firefighting capabilities, runway safety, and coordination in the tower between civil and military users were other essential areas for improvement. The team observed a dangerous shortage of personnel equipment, infrastructure and training in the airport's fire department. Of the three fire engines owned by the airport, only one is in working condition and it is in need of a complete overhaul. While the one firetruck functions, it was under repairs to get the engine started when the team arrived. If this truck were to break, the airport's ability to fight fires would depend on the cooperation of American and French military fire departments, which do not have a written agreement to provide firefighting services - only a verbal understanding that they would assist in an emergency if able. The department does not have enough proximity gear for its 18 firefighters and all are in need of even basic firefighting skills training. Recommendations included the immediate pursuit of an agreement with the American and French militaries for firefighting coverage until the department is up to standard, replacement of all three engines with more modern technology, procurement of proximity gear for the full department, and ground-up training in firefighting skills as well as advanced firefighting training for the department. ¶5. (SBU) Runway safety was one area with a need for immediate and costly renovations. The current clear area on either side of the runway needs to be level with the runway and cleared of all brush, mounds and trees. The pavement on the runway currently has a six-inch drop-off from the edge to the ground adjacent. However, the leveling of the clear area and feathering of the runway would necessitate an overhaul of drainage and lighting systems that were recently repaired or installed. The need for a parallel taxiway that extends the full length of the runway was also cited, as the current one is only the partial length and has insufficient width for large aircraft. ¶6. (SBU) The tower operation currently has 12 controllers, 6 experienced, 5 newly trained and one in training. The experienced controllers were trained in Toulouse, France and the newly trained received air traffic training at a school in Dubai. The training manager for air traffic controllers seemed very knowledgeable in the eyes of the team members observing, but assurance of continuity of his programs is needed after his retirement. French and American military controllers are also present in the tower. French controllers only guide the Mirages while in the air and are not in the tower at other times. American military controllers have a good working relationship with the Djiboutian controllers, but act only as a liaison with American aircraft and can step in during emergency situations. The team recommended greater coordination for tower controllers with their military counterparts. Problems such as radar interference could be solved by requesting the assistance of American military expertise and equipment to find such interference. Radio frequencies in the tower need to be controlled by the Djiboutians, rather than relying on French control of the VHF frequencies. Recommendations included regulations, documentation and oversight from DCAA, as well as tower grounding and several other infrastructure improvements. RAGSDALE