Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PARIS1717
2007-04-30 14:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON
how-toVZCZCXYZ0049 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHFR #1717/01 1201447 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 301447Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6832 INFO RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 6525 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RUEPINS/HQ BICE INTEL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
UNCLAS PARIS 001717
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC FR
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON
APPLICATION 050038126
REF: SECSTATE 43252
UNCLAS PARIS 001717
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC FR
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON
APPLICATION 050038126
REF: SECSTATE 43252
1. (SBU) SUMMARY. On April 12, emboffs conducted a
pre-license check on application 050038126 for the export of
12 filter assemblies to Sabena Technics in France via the UK.
Sabena Technics has a good reputation in the aircraft
maintenance field, and post has no derogatory information
about the company. The company services both civilian and
military aircraft. On the military side, Sabena Technics
only services NATO, French, Dutch, and Belgian military
aircraft. The firm has the plant necessary to perform its
services and the office space required to provide
administrative support. It has strict security procedures,
particularly in the parts of its facilities that store spare
parts and service military aircraft. End summary.
2. (SBU) On April 12, econoff and APP Rennes Commercial
Specialist conducted a pre-license check on application
050038126 for the export of CASA CN235 aircraft spare parts
to France via the UK. We met with Sabena Technics Quality
Assurance Manager Olivier Lefevre, Subcontacting Department
Head Gildas Grasland, and Executive Strategic Buyer Peter
Woodward.
Company History - From Regional Airline to Aircraft
Maintenance Specialist
============================================= ======
3. (SBU) Sabena Technics has a good reputation in the
aircraft maintenance field, and post has no derogatory
information about the company. Our American Presence Post in
Rennes had contacts within the firm, and had intended to
provide the company with a list of suppliers before this case
arose. Sabena reps gave us an overview of their operations
and their firm's history. The company was founded in 1969 as
Touraine Air Transport, a regional airline that also leased
aircraft and had a maintenance arm. This group evolved into
the TAT group, a 600-member firm that focused primarily on
aircraft maintenance. TAT doubled its workforce when it
acquired the Nimes maintenance facility of the AOM Group, a
maintenance arm of regional airlines Minerve and Air
Outremer. The acquisition of AOM also allowed TAT to expand
into the maintenance of wide-bodied aircraft. In 2005, TAT
Industries acquired Brussels-based firm Sabena Technics,
adopting its name. Sabena Technics was originally the
maintenance arm of Belgium-based Sabena Airlines, which later
spun it off. This acquisition expanded the company's
workforce to 3,300, with 1,100 working in Brussels. The firm
now has an annual turnover of 300 million euros (USD 390
million) and 150,000 square meters of space for hangers and
workshops. It is not involved in any missile, nuclear,
chemical, or biological programs.
Broad Array of Operations
=========================
4. (SBU) Throughthese acquisitions, Sabena has become
involved in a broad array of aircraft maintenance activities.
It provides repairs, service, painting, and hydraulic
component support services for both regional aircraft and
wide-bodied aircraft. The facility we visited in Dinard, the
firm's original repair facility and the company's
headquarters, only services regional aircraft of up to 100
seats. The company also offers a complete range of landing
gear, wheels, and brakes.
5. (SBU) Sabena Technics also modifies and upgrades military
aircraft. The company states that it is an authorized
Lockheed Hercules service center since 1977, and it complies
with NATO Allied Quality Assurance Standards. Since 1988,
Sabena Technics has serviced NATO's B707 AWACS training cargo
aircraft. It also performs maintenance operations for the
national air forces of France, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
Sabena Technics has established relationships with all of
these entities. The firm has the plant necessary to perform
its services and the office space required to provide
administrative support.
Security
========
6. (SBU) Sabena Technics understands the restrictions of U.S.
military list articles, including its re-export provisions.
The Dinard headquarters of Sabena Technics was located at the
Dinard airport. The entire facility is fenced in with one
control point. We, like all other visitors, had to provide
an official ID (national ID card or passport) and be
accompanied during our entire visit. Company personnel must
inform Security in advance of the arrival of all visitors.
Sabena Technics has a Security Manager who has six full-time
employees working for him. They man the control booth,
monitor surveillance cameras, and walk around the site.
Someone from Security is on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a
week. All employees must wear their badges, which specify
the areas to which the employees have access. Sabena
Technics services military aircraft in dedicated areas that
are also fenced off. Surveillance cameras monitor these
areas and other zones that contain spare parts to prevent
unauthorized access and theft. To obtain a badge that allows
entrance to these sensitive areas, employees undergo
dedicated training. After the 8 AM to 6 PM office hours,
administrative staff no longer have access to the sensitive
areas.
Customers
=========
7. (SBU) Sabena Technics does not do business or have
contacts with embargoed countries or entities. Fifty percent
of Sabena's clients are French. Eighty to ninety percent of
the aircraft the firm services is manufactured in Europe.
Its clients also include African and Indian Subcontinent
airlines, but Sabena Technics provides no servicing for
military aircraft from these countries. Its supplies come
exclusively from Europe and North America. The firm mainly
sources its parts in the U.S. from OEM general brokers.
8. (SBU) Sabena Technics placed orders for filter assemblies
in 2005, 2006, and 2007. However, it requested that we
provide the order number associated with export license
number 05-0038126 before confirming whether it had ordered a
filter assembly associated with that particular license.
Sabena Technics did not have the export license numbers since
Eaton Corporation applied for the license, not Sabena.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
STAPLETON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC FR
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON
APPLICATION 050038126
REF: SECSTATE 43252
1. (SBU) SUMMARY. On April 12, emboffs conducted a
pre-license check on application 050038126 for the export of
12 filter assemblies to Sabena Technics in France via the UK.
Sabena Technics has a good reputation in the aircraft
maintenance field, and post has no derogatory information
about the company. The company services both civilian and
military aircraft. On the military side, Sabena Technics
only services NATO, French, Dutch, and Belgian military
aircraft. The firm has the plant necessary to perform its
services and the office space required to provide
administrative support. It has strict security procedures,
particularly in the parts of its facilities that store spare
parts and service military aircraft. End summary.
2. (SBU) On April 12, econoff and APP Rennes Commercial
Specialist conducted a pre-license check on application
050038126 for the export of CASA CN235 aircraft spare parts
to France via the UK. We met with Sabena Technics Quality
Assurance Manager Olivier Lefevre, Subcontacting Department
Head Gildas Grasland, and Executive Strategic Buyer Peter
Woodward.
Company History - From Regional Airline to Aircraft
Maintenance Specialist
============================================= ======
3. (SBU) Sabena Technics has a good reputation in the
aircraft maintenance field, and post has no derogatory
information about the company. Our American Presence Post in
Rennes had contacts within the firm, and had intended to
provide the company with a list of suppliers before this case
arose. Sabena reps gave us an overview of their operations
and their firm's history. The company was founded in 1969 as
Touraine Air Transport, a regional airline that also leased
aircraft and had a maintenance arm. This group evolved into
the TAT group, a 600-member firm that focused primarily on
aircraft maintenance. TAT doubled its workforce when it
acquired the Nimes maintenance facility of the AOM Group, a
maintenance arm of regional airlines Minerve and Air
Outremer. The acquisition of AOM also allowed TAT to expand
into the maintenance of wide-bodied aircraft. In 2005, TAT
Industries acquired Brussels-based firm Sabena Technics,
adopting its name. Sabena Technics was originally the
maintenance arm of Belgium-based Sabena Airlines, which later
spun it off. This acquisition expanded the company's
workforce to 3,300, with 1,100 working in Brussels. The firm
now has an annual turnover of 300 million euros (USD 390
million) and 150,000 square meters of space for hangers and
workshops. It is not involved in any missile, nuclear,
chemical, or biological programs.
Broad Array of Operations
=========================
4. (SBU) Throughthese acquisitions, Sabena has become
involved in a broad array of aircraft maintenance activities.
It provides repairs, service, painting, and hydraulic
component support services for both regional aircraft and
wide-bodied aircraft. The facility we visited in Dinard, the
firm's original repair facility and the company's
headquarters, only services regional aircraft of up to 100
seats. The company also offers a complete range of landing
gear, wheels, and brakes.
5. (SBU) Sabena Technics also modifies and upgrades military
aircraft. The company states that it is an authorized
Lockheed Hercules service center since 1977, and it complies
with NATO Allied Quality Assurance Standards. Since 1988,
Sabena Technics has serviced NATO's B707 AWACS training cargo
aircraft. It also performs maintenance operations for the
national air forces of France, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
Sabena Technics has established relationships with all of
these entities. The firm has the plant necessary to perform
its services and the office space required to provide
administrative support.
Security
========
6. (SBU) Sabena Technics understands the restrictions of U.S.
military list articles, including its re-export provisions.
The Dinard headquarters of Sabena Technics was located at the
Dinard airport. The entire facility is fenced in with one
control point. We, like all other visitors, had to provide
an official ID (national ID card or passport) and be
accompanied during our entire visit. Company personnel must
inform Security in advance of the arrival of all visitors.
Sabena Technics has a Security Manager who has six full-time
employees working for him. They man the control booth,
monitor surveillance cameras, and walk around the site.
Someone from Security is on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a
week. All employees must wear their badges, which specify
the areas to which the employees have access. Sabena
Technics services military aircraft in dedicated areas that
are also fenced off. Surveillance cameras monitor these
areas and other zones that contain spare parts to prevent
unauthorized access and theft. To obtain a badge that allows
entrance to these sensitive areas, employees undergo
dedicated training. After the 8 AM to 6 PM office hours,
administrative staff no longer have access to the sensitive
areas.
Customers
=========
7. (SBU) Sabena Technics does not do business or have
contacts with embargoed countries or entities. Fifty percent
of Sabena's clients are French. Eighty to ninety percent of
the aircraft the firm services is manufactured in Europe.
Its clients also include African and Indian Subcontinent
airlines, but Sabena Technics provides no servicing for
military aircraft from these countries. Its supplies come
exclusively from Europe and North America. The firm mainly
sources its parts in the U.S. from OEM general brokers.
8. (SBU) Sabena Technics placed orders for filter assemblies
in 2005, 2006, and 2007. However, it requested that we
provide the order number associated with export license
number 05-0038126 before confirming whether it had ordered a
filter assembly associated with that particular license.
Sabena Technics did not have the export license numbers since
Eaton Corporation applied for the license, not Sabena.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
STAPLETON