TURKMENISTAN AIRLINES EMPLOYEES RECEIVE BIG PAY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001452 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB USTDA FOR STEIN E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2018 TAGS: PGOV EAIR EPET TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN AIRLINES EMPLOYEES RECEIVE BIG PAY RAISE, PERHAPS RELATED TO SAFETY REF: ASHGABAT 1079 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1. 4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On October 16, President Berdimuhamedov announced that salaries of Turkmenistan Airlines employees would double. Meanwhile, he has reprimanded the national airline's chief several times this year, most recently on September 26. One airport employee believes that the pay raises were somehow connected to a lack of airline safety. An embassy contractor recently had a harrowing flight experience, and has heard reports of other recent safety incidents. This developing story suggests that the airline might be trying to address its reportedly haphazard and inadequate approach to aircraft maintenance. The pay raise also may be part of an attempt to stop experienced employees from leaving the airline -- especially engineers, who have more lucrative options such as oil and gas companies. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) The October 16 edition of official Russian-language newspaper Neytralniy Turkmenistan announced that salaries of Turkmenistan Airlines employees were increased retroactively by 100 percent, effective October 1. According to longtime Turkmenistan residents, since independence there has never been such a substantial salary increase made at one time. This move also follows the president's most recent reprimand of the Chief of the State National Aviation Service (Turkmenistan Airlines),Gurbanyaz Tirkishov, for shortcomings in maintenance training of technical-engineering personnel, and for "untimely fulfillment of the president's assignments," announced in the September 26 edition of official Russian-language newspaper "Neytralniy Turkmenistan." ¶3. (C) According to a conversation with an airport employee on October 31, only the local currency portion of pilot, aircrew, and mechanic salaries was doubled. (NOTE: Airline employees are reportedly paid in both local currency and dollars. END NOTE) The airport employee said that employees had not yet received the raise. He also mentioned that there might be a connection between safety issues and the pay raise since pilots, aircrew, and mechanics have the most to do with flight safety and are directly responsible for many people's lives. ¶4. (C) The local Amcit Boeing Field Service Representative has mentioned in the past that the national airline salvages parts from out-of-service aircraft. He has also commented on the difficulty of getting parts through Turkmen Customs. On October 31, he again said that the airline does not plan ahead, as a result of which it constantly has to deal with one urgent situation after another. As an example, he cited rumors he has heard around the airport that the government did not purchase replacement parts when it bought two Bombardier Challenger executive jets in August (reftel). He also mentioned that engineers are leaving the airline, including for jobs with oil and gas companies. ¶5. (C) An Amcit contractor employed as an engineer on a USG assistance project reported that a plane on which he was supposed to fly to Turkmenabat on October 9 experienced severe mechanical problems. The plane departed one hour later than scheduled, with further delays after pushing out from the gate because the flight crew couldn't turn off some warning/safety lights. Immediately after takeoff, he heard a very loud or snapping sound. He believes that the pilot immediately began to make arrangements with the control tower to land. After circling Ashgabat the pilot dumped the plane's fuel, flew low to let the control tower confirm that the wheels were down, and tried several times to land softly, which he was finally able to do. After disembarking from the plane, the Amcit saw that the wheel axle was broken. This ASHGABAT 00001452 002 OF 002 Amcit, a frequent flyer on Turkmen Air, said that he has heard from acquaintances who work for the airline that some passengers on a Turkmenbashy flight were injured when the plane had mechanical problems and lost altitude. ¶6. (SBU) COMMENT: As suggested above, planning and maintenance appear to be in short supply at Turkmenistan Airlines. Despite its relatively modern fleet of Boeing aircraft, shortcuts, underfunding and competitive pressures all appear to be taking a toll on the airline from a safety point of view. Unfortunately, it operates a business where shortcomings can have deadly consequences. Hopefully, the increased salaries and reprimands of the airline's chief are indications that its shortcomings have been noted and are being remedied. END COMMENT. CURRAN