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