Challenges to Airport Certification in Nairobi

UNCLAS NAIROBI 001032 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/RSA, EB/TRA/OTP, S/CT DEPT ALSO PASS TO DOT FOR CONNIE HUNTER SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ECON PGOV KE SUBJECT: Challenges to Airport Certification in Nairobi REF: FAA 102211Z FEB 06 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. FOR USG USE ONLY ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Visiting U.S. FAA airport certification specialist Ed Dorsett's training for Kenyan inspectors highlighted many deficiencies at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) that will likely prevent its certification to ICAO standards until 2007. Regulator Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and operator Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) agreed to jointly develop an action plan to institutionalize maintenance, quality control and auditing systems to meet ICAO certification standards. However, their challenge is illustrated by the fact that many of the deficiencies were also noted a year ago by ICAO inspectors and still remain unresolved. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) Airport certification by national aviation regulators is a fairly new ICAO requirement, and Kenya is behind schedule on implementation/compliance. At the Cape Verde Safe Skies for Africa Ministerial, the FAA agreed to a request from KCAA Director General Chris Kuto to send an FAA specialist to train KCAA's airport inspectors. Ed Dorsett spent five days at JKIA, conferring with KCAA and KAA personnel, accompanying inspectors around the facilities, checking the issues on ICAO's certification list and standards, and helping to prepare KCAA's list of deficiencies. ICAO requires that members certify their own airports. ¶3. (SBU) Dorsett found that KCAA's inspection personnel are sufficiently qualified, properly prepared, and motivated to carry out their duties. Dorsett and the Kenyan officials noted many deficiencies that need to be addressed, some of them urgent, such as lighting and signage on runways, taxiways and aprons. Mission e-mailed on March 6 the long list of problems to FAA, DOT, and EB/TRA. ¶4. (SBU) At the presentation of the report to a group of KAA and KCAA officials, KCAA DG Kuto noted that the deficiencies included real safety hazards that could cause an accident that would have lasting consequences for the economy and KAA. Based on what he learned at the Cape Verde SSFA Ministerial, Kuto stressed that the goal should not be to pass inspection once and then slide back into old ways of thinking. Rather it should be to fix the problems, and maintain high standards to reach the real goal of achieving Category One status. Kuto expressed his appreciation for the assistance from FAA and SSFA. ¶5. (SBU) KCAA DG Chris Kuto and JKIA Manager Joseph Okumu (KAA) agreed the agencies should jointly and quickly develop an action plan that defines roles and responsibilities. Kuto stated that agency heads had to show the way forward to their subordinates. Kuto proposed a joint, mass meeting where he and KAA Director George Muhoho would explain the issue and follow up with a jointly signed circular on the importance of meeting the ICAO standards. Okumu said KAA could fund most of the repairs on the list from the landing fees it collects from users. He recognized the need for KAA to strengthen its internal quality control system and implement its new manual for aerodrome certification as part of its effort to achieve ISO certification as well. ¶6. (SBU) Emboffs suggested that inspectors in Uganda and Tanzania will need airport certification training, and the East African Community (EAC) will need to upgrade and harmonize its airport certification procedures. Emboffs will pursue a regional training session for the EAC. Emboffs also highlighted the need for effective action, noting that an accident at JKIA would attract widespread attention and accusations of negligence that could seriously impact Kenya's economy by reducing tourism and air traffic. ¶7. (SBU) Comment: Dorsett privately noted to Emboffs that the ICAO inspection done a year ago noted the exact same deficiencies he saw, indicating a troubling bureaucratic inertia on the part of KAA and KCAA. His optimistic estimate was that it would take 6-12 months to bring JKIA up to ICAO certification standards, but warned that procurement of necessary materials, parts and equipment could create additional delays. BELLAMY