MEETING WITH VENEZUELAN CIVAIR AUTHORITIES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 003082

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR ECON VE
SUBJECT: MEETING WITH VENEZUELAN CIVAIR AUTHORITIES


This message is sensitive but unclassified, please treat
accordingly.


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On October 10, Econoffs met with the
president and representatives of the National Civil Aviation
Institute (INAC) to discuss various pending aviation issues.
The group discussed formalizing a Federal Air Marshals
program in Venezuela, rumors about Caracas-Tehran-Damascus
flights, Venezuela's bilateral aviation agreements, reaching
out to Boeing, visa issues and the status of Venezuelan
carriers' request to fly to the U.S. with their own aircraft.
END SUMMARY.

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Federal Air Marshals
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2. (SBU) On October 10, EconCouns and EconOff met with a team
from Venezuela's Civil Aviation Institute (INAC),including
its president, Col. Francisco Paz Fleitas. Over the last two
years, Post has sent three diplomatic notes asking the BRV to
formally allow Federal Air Marshals (FAMS) to board flights
to/from Venezuela, but has received no response. (Note: FAMS
operated in Venezuela in the past, under an informal
agreement with the BRV. End Note). INAC's legal counsel
explained that Venezuelan law strictly prohibited carrying
weapons on board an aircraft without a permit, which is only
granted in very exceptional circumstances. Paz Fleitas said
that INAC would study ICAO guidelines to see if Venezuela
could revise internal regulations and adopt the program, and
agreed that it was important to cooperate on aviation
security. EconCouns noted that the Transportation Security
Agency (TSA) would be willing to send down an expert to
explain the program's details. Paz Fleitas said he would
study the issue, and would prepare a written response.

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Iran and Syria
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3. (SBU) During Iranian President Ahmadinejad's visit in
September, the state-owned carrier, Conviasa, and Air Iran
signed a code share agreement to operate flights between
Caracas and Tehran. During an October 7 tourism fair in
Caracas, EconOff spoke to an Iran Air representative who said
that the flight would be operative in November. EconOff
asked INAC's representatives if these routes were indeed
going to operate next month. They chuckled and said they had
not received any formal request from the airline and that the
timeline was unrealistic.


4. (SBU) Freddy Charris, INAC's Economics and Statistics
Manager, confirmed that there are no current Caracas-Tehran
or Caracas-Damascus routes, and again debunked press reports
these routes could be approved within the calendar year.
INAC officials noted that as Conviasa didn't have aircraft
capable of operating such a distance, the code-share would
likely be on an Iran Air aircraft. Charris said the BRV is
negotiating a number of bilateral aviation agreements with
countries in the middle east, including Iran, Syria, Qatar,
and the United Arab Emirates.

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Getting cozier with the U.S.
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5. (SBU) David Isea, INAC's General Security Manager,
outlined the BRV's desire to do more business with Boeing,
and develop Venezuela as a strong market. He outlined INAC's
"transformational plan" to turn Venezuelan air services into

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a full-blown industry, and asked for assistance in reaching
out further to Boeing. Isea mentioned that Venezuelan
carriers had attempted to negotiate wet-leased aircraft from
U.S. companies but had been turned down (presumably because
the carrier was Venezuelan). (Note: Wet-lease companies'
reticence to operate in Venezuela likely stems from
difficulties in obtaining U.S. dollars from the Foreign
Exchange Board (CADIVI) to pay for air services. End Note.)


6. (SBU) Isea also emphasized the continuing need for INAC
representatives to travel to the United States, both to
secure the relationship with Boeing and for inspector
training. He expressed frustration with the limited validity
of the visas issued for this purpose, and the need for a new
diplomatic note each time a visa was requested. EconOff
explained that our policy had come to this due to
reciprocity, and that Post had approached the Ministry of
External Relations (MRE) repeatedly on the broader
reciprocity issue. INAC's representatives understood, and
expressed frustration with the MRE's position and their
inefficiency when issuing diplomatic notes for INAC travel.


7. (SBU) INAC's representatives did not inquire expressly
about Venezuelan carriers' requests to fly their own aircraft
and crews to the United States following Venezuela's upgrade
to Category 1 earlier this year. However, when the issue
arose later in the meeting, they were pleased to hear that
Aeropostal's application was progressing and that the airline
would likely be notified soon on the request.

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Comment
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8. (SBU) Unlike the last formal meeting with INAC (over the
Category 1 issue),this meeting's tone was positive and
collegial. Charris asked that we establish a working level
dialogue and communicate openly about aviation issues. INAC
is keeping aviation issues at a technical level, it seems,
and while the BRV is certainly developing relationships
across the globe, INAC is not shying away from the U.S.
market or U.S. providers. Post will seek to maintain this
dialogue with INAC. End comment.

BROWNFIELD