BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE CHECK ON

UNCLAS BANGKOK 004820 SIPDIS SIPDIS PM/DTTC FOR BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR AARNETT AND TWATKINS SINGAPORE FOR MICHAEL CLAUSEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KOMC SN TH SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE CHECK ON APPLICATION 05-1000078 REF: SECSTATE 122379 ¶1. POL FSN visited the Directorate of Aeronautical Engineering of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) on August 3 and met with Group Captain Santichai Phatklap, Director of the Engineering Supply Division and Group Captain Bunsuep of the Directorate's front office. Response to reftel questions follows: Q: Has RTAF placed an order with CAS for the parts listed in the license? A: Our contacts confirmed the purchase was made but explained that the RTAF does not place the order directly with CAS but instead through the state-backed firm "Thai Aviation Industries CO, LTD" (TAI). Q: Who is the RTAF's POC with CAS? A: None, the RTAF and the Directorate do not have direct contacts with CAS, TAI does. Santichai was assigned as POC with TAI on the order. Q: Is CAS a regularly used intermediary for RTAF procurements? A: According to records maintained by the Engineering Supply Division, this was the first time RTAF worked indirectly with CAS. Santichai presented a copy of the purchase contract for the listed items, signed by the Director General of the Directorate, Air Marshal Suphon Kesonmala and the TAI General Manager, Air Marshal Sittiphon Chailak, Ref. No. 15/2549, dated February 27, 2006. The End-User Statement, signed by TAI General Manager Sitthipon and Group Captain Santichai on March 10, 2006 was also presented and appeared legitimate. ARVIZU