BRAZIL: AMBASSADOR SEEKS IN-COUNTRY FAA PRESENCE TO FURTHER

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRASILIA 000572

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EB/TRA: JEFF HORWITZ, JOEL REIFMAN
TSA FOR VICKI REEDER, SUSAN HASMAN

SIPDIS
FAA FOR C. TERE FRANCESCHI, CECILIA CAPESTANY, MAYTE ASHBY
DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR BRIAN HEDBERG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR OTRA ECON BR
SUBJECT: BRAZIL: AMBASSADOR SEEKS IN-COUNTRY FAA PRESENCE TO FURTHER
STRENGTHEN BILATERAL CIVAIR COOPERATION

REF: A. BRASILIA 485

B. 06 BRASILIA 2315

C. 06 BRASILIA 2521

D. 06 BRASILIA 2680

E. 06 BRASILIA 2578


1. (SBU) Summary: Embassy enthusiastically endorses the concept of
posting an FAA attache in Brazil to provide for a regional FAA
presence in South America. Bilaterally, such a presence would allow
FAA and Mission Brazil to work together to assist the Brazilians in
dealing with their air traffic control crisis through greater
training and information exchange efforts. End Summary.


2. (SBU) As indicated in reftels, Brazil has been plagued with a
host of air travel issues since the collapse of national carrier
Varig in early 2006. The stress on Brazil's aviation infrastructure
was exacerbated by the mid-air collision between Gol Flight 1907 and
a private plane on September 29, 2006, which led to the Gol jet's
crash and loss of all 154 persons on board. Air traffic controllers
(ATCs) in Brazil subsequently enacted a work-to-rule slowdown to
better comply with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
regulations following allegations of potential errors in their
operations just prior to the crash, and also to protest their
overall working conditions (as military personnel, Brazilian ATCs
are paid the usual military pay rate depending on their rank, not a
skilled-personnel salary such as is paid to U.S. ATCs.)


3. (SBU) Now oft-referred to as a "crisis," the civil aviation
situation shows no imminent signs of improvement, having flared up
several times since last year, with particularly onerous flight
delays and cancellations during heavily traveled weekends and
holiday periods. This past weekend, air traffic controllers went on
strike, effectively paralyzing air traffic in the country on Friday
and Saturday (septel). Over the past few years, air travel in
Brazil has increased dramatically, without a corresponding increase
in the GOB's budget and other resources devoted to aviation
infrastructure.


4. (U) Mission Brazil enthusiastically supports the idea of posting
a regional FAA attache in-country, either at the Consulate in Sao
Paulo or the Embassy in Brasilia, to allow for increased cooperation
and technical exchange. We envision the FAA Attache as the primary
liaison with GOB civil aviation authorities, working hand in hand
with Mission Brazil's Military Liaison Office and Defense Attache
Office as long as air traffic control remains the responsibility of
the Brazilian Air Force, in addition to receiving appropriate
assistance and support from the CivAir Officer in the Economic
Section for any non-military aviation concerns. Brazil is the
largest country in the Southern Hemisphere, with several airports
offering flights from the U.S. (Comment: With the advent of U.S.
carrier flights from Miami to Northeast Brazil, planned in the near
future, this will bring the number of airports in Brazil that have
flights from Miami to four, possibly increasing to five airports in
short order. End Comment.)


5. (U) Despite the issues mentioned, Sao Paulo still offers fairly
ready access to other Southern Hemisphere cities. Posting an
attache there would be more cost- and time-effective for regional
coverage than having a person in Miami or farther south in Buenos
Aires or Santiago, for example. In addition, aviation contacts in
Brazil are not centralized in Brasilia; although the federal
government is based here, the air traffic control function still
lies with the military. Sao Paulo offers the ability to conduct
business both within Brazil and externally, and would maximize the
FAA's budget for regional activities. The Ambassador stands ready
to assist the establishment of an FAA presence there.


6. (U) In addition, Mission Brazil would welcome and support the
assignment of a TDY person from FAA prior, or in addition, to the
assignment of a longer-term attache, to expedite our aviation
cooperation efforts with the GOB.


7. (U) Mission Brazil thanks FAA's Western Hemisphere Office (Mayte
Ashby, Cecilia Capestany, and Tere Franceschi) for their
communication, information and cooperation thus far. We are ready
to assist FAA with developing its regional presence. The point of
contact for Mission Brazil on military technical exchange subjects

BRASILIA 00000572 002 OF 002


is Lt. Col. Joy Griffith, United States Military Liaison Office,
Brasilia, tel. 55-61-3248-8212, e-mail joy.griffith 'at'
brasilia.mg.southcom.mil. For general military aviation issues, the
contact is Col. Kevin Karol, U.S. Defense Attache Office, tel.
55-61-3312-7081, e-mail KarolKP 'at' state.gov. The contact for
civil aviation matters is Gabrielle Sarrano, Economic Section, Tel.
55-61-3312-7154, e-mail SarranoGH 'at' state.gov.

SOBEL