EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK, SOLENTA DHL

UNCLAS ABIDJAN 001404 SIPDIS SIPDIS ICE HQ FOR STRATEGIC INVESTIGATIONS PARIS ICE ATTACHE STATE FOR EB/ESP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BEXP ETRD ETTC IV SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK, SOLENTA DHL ¶1. Econ Chief visited Solenta DHL at Abidjan airport as requested in reftel to inquire into application number D366138 registered on 10/26/2006 (OEA/532 M.Hames/Doris Johnson) for a attitude inertial sensor, model 7003360-946. ¶2. Econ Chief spoke to Business Development Manager Helen Bergounioux (French citizen) and her South African citizen chief mechanic (M. Botha) and visited one of the ATR 42/72 aircraft Solenta maintains. ¶3. Solenta DHL appears to be a very suitable purchaser of said equipment. The company performs all the maintenance on DHL's fleet of 4 ATR 42-72 aircraft operating in West Africa (Note: DHL has the contract to transport US State Dept. pouches. End Note). Solenta has a spare 7003360-946 in stock, under lock and key, and is ordering it so it is on hand should one of the aircraft in the fleet require a replacement. Each of the four ATR 42-72s flies over 250 hours per month, causing substantial wear and tear and the maintenance of a continuous stock of key replacement parts. Solenta's HQ in Johannesburg purchases all of the replacement parts and distributes them to its operations throughout Africa. ¶4. Solenta's management was very open and cooperative with Econ Chief and FCS LES. Hooks