BRAZIL: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION OF

UNCLAS BRASILIA 002287 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ECON PTER BR SUBJECT: BRAZIL: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION OF FEDERAL FLIGHT DECK OFFICER PROGRAM REF: SECSTATE 165447 ¶1. (SBU) TSA Regional Attache and Econoffs delivered reftel demarche Monday afternoon to representatives from the Brazilian National Civil Aviation Authority, ANAC, as well as GOB interlocutors from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Brazilian Airports Authority, INFRAERO. ¶2. (SBU) The GOB representatives present expressed fairly strong disfavor to permitting armed pilots to enter into Brazil. It was expressed by one ANAC official active in ICAO that "the Brazilian national position is to prohibit having any weapon in the cabin of an aircraft," and that there is already some resistance to the idea of having even Federal Air Marshals on board aircraft flying in and out of Brazil. The same official indicated that the GOB would like to see conclusive safety studies done on both the Air Marshal and FFDO programs, and would like the evidence to be presented to the GOB before any further discussion on this topic. He seemed to feel that the level of risk accepted by ICAO was not in line with what the GOB is willing to accept. ¶3. (SBU) An MFA official retained a copy of the written talking points. SOBEL