LIBERIA: REQUEST FOR AIRPORT SURVEY AND ASSISTANCE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MONROVIA 001033

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE PASS TO FAA FOR AHARRIS, TO DHS/TSA FOR BMCLAUGHLIN
DAKAR PLEASE PASS TO FAA REP MKEANE
ROME PLEASE PASS TO TSA REP JHALINSKI
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W AOKEDEJI, AF/EPS CTRIMBLE, EB/ESC
SSAARNIO, INR/AA BGRAVES, EB/TRA/OTP JEMERY AND KGUSTAVSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR ECON PGOV FAA LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: REQUEST FOR AIRPORT SURVEY AND ASSISTANCE


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Since signing an Open Skies agreement
with the United States in February 2007, the Government of
Liberia (GOL) is eager to initiate direct air service between
the United States and Liberia. However, the security,
safety, systems, and immigration shortfalls at the
Robertsfield International Airport (RIA) outside Monrovia
remain a formidable challenge for the initiation of non-stop
flights to and from the United States. Some improvements are
underway to address these issues but it is unlikely these
will be sufficient to meet even minimum standards required by

U. S. aviation authorities and airlines. Post requests
assistance from the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA),the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS),and the Transportation
Safety Agency (TSA) to assess the status and needs of the RIA
and Liberian Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA) with an eye
towards preparing Liberia for potential direct air service to
the United States. END SUMMARY.

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Demand for flights is expanding
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2. (U) President Johnson Sirleaf has stated publicly and
privately on numerous occasions that she is eager to initiate
direct air service between the United States and Liberia.
The GOL signed an Open Skies agreement in February 2007 and
the President has personally encouraged U.S. carriers (namely
Delta Airlines) to examine flights to Monrovia in addition to
their other direct routes to West Africa (Delta currently
flies to Accra and Dakar and will begin service to Lagos in
December). Direct service to the United States would cut
travel time and cost significantly, encouraging trade and
investment.


3. (U) There are currently a handful of regional flights
to/from Monrovia each week on African carriers such as SLOK,
Bellevue, and Kenya Airways, as well as three flights a week
to Belgium on Brussels Airlines (via Dakar) and one flight a
week to London on charter carrier Astreus Airlines. RIA
Managing Director Abraham Simmons told the Ambassador July 19
that he has received inquiries from several airlines
interested in servicing Monrovia, including Ethiopian
Airlines, KLM, Virgin Atlantic, Delta, and Continental.
Simmons expects the RIA's current passenger load of 69,000
passengers per year to increase to 90,000 by 2010.

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Monrovia International Airport's Problems
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4. (SBU) At present, however, the security, safety and
operational deficiencies of the RIA deter any general
expansion of service, and direct flights to the United States
in particular. Outside advisors contracted by USAID tell the
Embassy that RIA does not meet even minimum safety
requirements: inadequate fire and rescue equipment, no
functioning ambulance, and almost no safety procedures or
training of airport personnel. In addition, they note that
RIA's insurance is capped at $10 million, an amount that
would be wiped out with even one minor mishap. RIA does have
an informal agreement with the United Nations contingent at
the airport for basic fire and rescue, and with the nearby
Firestone Rubber Plantation hospital for ambulance and
medical facilities, but the airport is unable at present to
provide these services itself.


5. (SBU) Flight and ground handling systems are equally
frail. In July, the lighting system, including approach
lights and runway lights, were cut by deliberate sabotage,
forcing the commercial airlines to operate in and out of RIA
according to restricted, daylight and visibility dependent
procedures. These basic systems have since been repaired,
but the airport still lacks functional guidance systems such
as the Very High Frequency Omni Directional Radio Range
(DVOR),Distance Measuring Equipment (DME),and Glide Path
(GP).


6. (SBU) Security at the airport is improving but remains
lax. The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) provides

MONROVIA 00001033 002 OF 003


perimeter security, but there are relatively easy access
points throughout, and loose control over official airport
personnel. RIA does not possess an x-ray machine, a scanner,
or a dangerous goods expert. Personnel trained by Brussels
Airlines have suitable training in security screening, but
the RIA employees have not been adequately trained.
Immigration officials continue to keep only paper records,
photocopying and filing copies of all passports and passenger
cards, and inputting only basic information on an Excel
spreadsheet.


7. (SBU) Simmons and other top managers at RIA are capable
and well-intentioned, but lack experienced section heads and
the resources to implement any of the easily identifiable
safety and security priorities. At present, the fifteen
dollar "security fee" charged to each ticket flows directly
to the LCAA rather than RIA. According to the U.S.-funded
GEMAP advisor to the RIA, that fee amounts to roughly $1.2
million in revenue per year that could be spent on security
upgrades, but thus far the RIA has not received any funding
from the LCAA for this purpose. RIA revenues from other fees
and handling charges total roughly $3.5 million per year, but
most is expended on overhead, mainly salaries. Simmons plans
to undertake a second round of staff rightsizing to remove 46
unqualified and unnecessary people from the books. At
present the RIA has only $450,000 in the bank.

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Plans for improvement are progressing
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8. (U) Donors have recognized these deficiencies and the
vital role that RIA plays and have funded many needed
improvements. USAID is funding $3 million in emergency works
and safety equipment, including an airport ramp, generators,
information technology upgrades, fire and rescue equipment,
and air handling systems, in addition to a full-time
management consultant funded under the GEMAP program.
USAID/OTI has also funded short term consultants to produce
an operations manual with procedures for each department and
$350,000 worth of training for airport personnel.
Specifications for the equipment will be complete and bid
documentation prepared by September, and the operations
manual is expected to be complete later in the fall.


9. (U) The World Bank is procuring and installing some of
the navigational, aeronautical and meteorological equipment
that has been missing. The $600,000 contract has been
awarded and the contractor is scheduled to arrive in August
to begin implementation. All the equipment is expected to be
operational in 6-9 months, according to Simmons. Meanwhile,
UNMIL has promised to provide a ring road and additional
fencing around the perimeter of the airport. The GOL
included $250,000 in its 2007-08 budget for renovations to
the airport terminal itself, and the contractor has completed
the first phase of the work. Simmons has suggested other
needs such as an upgrade to the radio navigation system and
runway resurfacing, while USAID advisors say there is a long
list of requirements to be addressed for the RIA to meet FAA
and TSA standards.


10. (U) The International Office of Migration (IOM) is
assisting the Ministry of Justice to build capacity in the
Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN). IOM is
training officers regarding fraudulent documents and impostor
recognition, and is seeking to implement a Passenger
Immigration Registration System (PIRS) passport scanner and
information management system to automate border and airport
operations. IOM says PIRS can work with DHS watchlists. The
Dutch government came to Liberia in June to seek a way to
assist BIN with transformation as part of their long-standing
program of cooperation with other West African countries in
this area. USAID/OTI is assisting the often troubled
passport office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the
GOL is in the process of revamping the Liberian passport to
make it machine readable.

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Further guidance and assistance is required

MONROVIA 00001033 003 OF 003


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11. (U) There is much political will but very little
capacity and financial support to do what it takes to make
the RIA meet FAA safety and TSA/DHS security standards. The
Airport Director largely understands the needs, and top
managers are qualified and capable, but capacity in the ranks
is thin and funding is scarce. Although donors are doing
what they can to help airport authorities address emergency
priorities, the LCAA and RIA require guidance to evaluate
their work plans and identify gaps in strategy. Post
requests assistance from the FAA, TSA and DHS to survey the
current condition of the airport and advise the GOL and
donors on the steps necessary to prepare the RIA and related
authorities for the possibility of direct flights to/from the
United States.

Booth