SAFE SKIES FOR AFRICA VITAL TO TANZANAI

1. (U) Post considers Safe Skies for Africa (SSFA) a highly
valuable program that advances two key goals of the U.S.
Mission in Tanzania and in the region: (i) counterterrorism
and (ii) economic growth and development. As set forth in
Tanzania's FY 2008 Mission Performance Plan (MPP), post's
objective with SSFA assistance is to advance both a homeland
defense strategy and a strategy to increase U.S.-Tanzanian
trade linkages.



2. (U) Post has set ambitious targets in its MPP to enhance
civil aviation safety and security in Tanzania and the East
African region by bringing all three of Tanzania's
international airports (Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, and
Zanzibar) into compliance with International Civil Aviation
Organization Category I standards and FAA standards by FY


2009. In November 1999, Tanzania and the United States
signed an Open Skies Agreement allowing unrestricted air
service by the airlines of each country. The Agreement
includes code-sharing to, from and beyond the others'
territory, eliminating restrictions on how often carriers can
fly, the types of aircraft carriers can use and prices they
can charge.

Progress in Counterterrorism, Enhanced Safety for US Citizens


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3. (U) Since the December 2002 signing of a Letter of
Agreement between the USG and the Government of Tanzania
(GOT) concerning equipment donated under SSFA, the Government
of Tanzania (GOT) has proactively cooperated with the
Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) to install
security equipment and train staff at all three airports.
Through the Agreement, explosive trace detectors, passenger
and baggage x-ray equipment and metal detectors were
purchased and installed by the USG. In addition, the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) provided aviation safety and
security training, and frequent reviews to instruct personnel
of the Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) on how to
competently use and effectively monitor these systems.



4. (U) The TCAA's SSFA-funded security equipment and training
program has progressed steadily through three stages from the
initial familiarization in equipment usage (2003), to
follow-on training to improve monitoring techniques (2005),
and finally to the training of supervisors to assure
consistency in equipment usage and monitoring (2006). Also,
over the past four years, key Tanzanian Civil Aviation
Authority officials have attended specialized programs at the
FAA training center in Oklahoma City. With the support of
regular visits and reviews from TSA regional office in
Nairobi, over the same time period, security at Tanzania's
three airports has steadily improved. The result is the
creation of a safer travel environment for the increasing
number of American tourists and businessmen visiting Tanzania
as well as meeting the counterterrorism goal of well-screened
and secure airports.

Economic Stimulus for Bilateral Trade


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5. (U) Regarding post's FY 2008 MPP Economic Growth priority
to increase the two-way trade between Tanzania and the United
States, the lack of direct flights between the two countries
has been a severe impediment, particularly in enabling
Tanzania's exports under the African Growth Opportunity Act
(AGOA). Products in which Tanzania has the competitive
advantage such as cut flowers, "baby" vegetables and fruits,
have limited access to U.S. markets due to air transportation
constraints. Currently the majority of cut roses from
Tanzania are shipped on the direct flights of European
carriers from Kilimanjaro Airport to Amsterdam, which serves
as a clearing house for cut flowers from East Africa.


6. (U) Some of these East African cut flowers may eventually
be shipped to and sold in the United States from the
Netherlands, but are not credited to Tanzania or other East
African countries as trade with the U.S under AGOA. Direct
Tanzanian-U.S. flights, on a U.S. carrier or without a
stopover in Europe, would significantly increase the
bilateral trade between our two countries.



7. (U) Well aware that compliance with international and FAA
civil aviation standards is a prerequisite to opening the
door to direct flights, the SSFA program is essential at this
stage of Tanzania's economic development. The Embassy, the
regional TSA office, and the TCAA have, and will continue to,
closely cooperate to set even higher standards for training,
reviews, surveys and airport security in order to accelerate
Tanzania's progress toward meeting the ICAO and FAA
requirements.

Regional Advantages


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8. (U) In terms of regionally-based assistance, post's view
is that an initiative encouraging air cargo development would
be essential to enhance the two way trade between the entire
East African region and the U.S. Such an initiative would
provide Tanzania with the opportunity to learn from regional
partners as well as to cooperate with neighboring countries
to develop air cargo capacity. In addition, post believes
that establishing an aviation security oversight organization
for the East African Community could provide a key mechanism
to facilitate and promote regional compliance with aviation
security as well as sustainability of increased civil
aviation practices and procedures.
DELLY