Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BISHKEK1217
2008-12-10 05:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
KYRGYZ CIVIL AVIATION DIRECTOR IDENTIFIES PROBLEMS
how-toVZCZCXRO2441 RR RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHEK #1217/01 3450517 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 100517Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1578 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2775 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1138 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3166 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2552 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001217
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GORKOWSKI),EEB/TRA (LIMAYE-DAVIS)
MOSCOW FOR FAA - STAURSETH
MONTREAL FOR ICAO OFFICER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2018
TAGS: EAIR MARR PREL KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ CIVIL AVIATION DIRECTOR IDENTIFIES PROBLEMS
BISHKEK 00001217 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: CDA Lee Litzenberger, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001217
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GORKOWSKI),EEB/TRA (LIMAYE-DAVIS)
MOSCOW FOR FAA - STAURSETH
MONTREAL FOR ICAO OFFICER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2018
TAGS: EAIR MARR PREL KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ CIVIL AVIATION DIRECTOR IDENTIFIES PROBLEMS
BISHKEK 00001217 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: CDA Lee Litzenberger, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: The new Kyrgyz civil aviation director
briefed the Charge December 2 about civil aviation
shortcomings and the likelihood that the Kyrgyz Republic
would fail a scheduled April 20 ICAO audit. The director
said his personnel needed aviation safety training, and
suggested that ICAO's "soft recommendations" required more
direct and persuasive transmission to ensure that Kyrgyz
officials and parliamentarians implemented necessary changes
to bring the Kyrgyz civil aviation code into conformance with
international standards. Noting his inability to act alone,
he requested international community support to make these
changes happen. End summary.
Civil Aviation Sector Challenges
--------------
2. (C) Alexander Nastayev, the new Director of the Civil
Aviation Authority under the Kyrgyz Ministry of Transport and
Communications, briefed the Charge December 2 on Kyrgyz civil
aviation sector difficulties. Based on current conditions,
Nastayev said that the Kyrgyz Republic would fail an April 20
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) audit.
(Note: All Kyrgyz air carriers are on a European Union
blacklist due to safety deficiencies. End note.) He
highlighted the need for legislative fixes and training to
overcome current shortcomings, and added that existing
Soviet-era equipment would only remain operable for another
two-three years. Nastayev intimated that replacement
equipment and aircraft would be sourced from western
companies.
Aviation Safety Training
--------------
3. (C) Nastayev said he needed to develop sufficient Civil
Aviation Authority expertise, and hoped to secure aviation
safety training for three employees. (Note: Most Kyrgyz air
traffic originates from Bishkek's Manas International
Airport, which is co-located with the Manas Coalition
Airbase. End note.) He added that he would be meeting with
the World Bank and European Union representatives in the
coming weeks to gauge their abilities to provide training and
related assistance.
A Stronger Directive from ICAO
--------------
4. (C) Nastayev turned to 60 "soft recommendations" ICAO
personnel had recently forwarded to Kyrgyz officials in
advance of the April audit. He said these recommendations
required changes to the Kyrgyz aviation code, and included
the need to incorporate provisions of the 1944 Chicago
Convention on international civil aviation. However,
Nastayev lamented that the Kyrgyz "mentality" required a more
persuasive, direct message from ICAO to ensure that the
parliament adopts necessary measures in a timely manner. "I
can't hit the wall alone," he argued and reiterated the need
for outside support for these changes. Nastayev said he
could not communicate this need to ICAO in writing, but
planned to visit ICAO personnel January 15 and planned to
present his case personally. He concluded by noting that the
Kyrgyz parliament would be reviewing the Kyrgyz aviation code
in late January, and opined that if Kyrgyz parliamentarians
and officials became more aware of Kyrgyz deficiencies
vis-a-vis international requirements then Kyrgyz action would
be expedited.
Comment
--------------
BISHKEK 00001217 002.2 OF 002
5. (C) Nastayev seems to believe that it will take
international pressure, as well as international assistance
in training and equipment, to bring about reforms to
Kyrgyzstan's civil aviation sector. Nastayev's outreach to
the Embassy could represent an opportunity to improve
relations with Kyrgyz civil aviation authorities who have
routine interaction with Manas Airbase operations. At the
conclusion of the meeting, Nastayev said he would be open to
discuss other aviation issues with the Embassy in the future.
We will review what options might be available to help
improve flight safety and operations at Manas airport, and
would welcome more encouragement from ICAO officials to
ensure Kyrgyz action in making their air code compliant with
international standards.
LITZENBERGER
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GORKOWSKI),EEB/TRA (LIMAYE-DAVIS)
MOSCOW FOR FAA - STAURSETH
MONTREAL FOR ICAO OFFICER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2018
TAGS: EAIR MARR PREL KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ CIVIL AVIATION DIRECTOR IDENTIFIES PROBLEMS
BISHKEK 00001217 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: CDA Lee Litzenberger, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: The new Kyrgyz civil aviation director
briefed the Charge December 2 about civil aviation
shortcomings and the likelihood that the Kyrgyz Republic
would fail a scheduled April 20 ICAO audit. The director
said his personnel needed aviation safety training, and
suggested that ICAO's "soft recommendations" required more
direct and persuasive transmission to ensure that Kyrgyz
officials and parliamentarians implemented necessary changes
to bring the Kyrgyz civil aviation code into conformance with
international standards. Noting his inability to act alone,
he requested international community support to make these
changes happen. End summary.
Civil Aviation Sector Challenges
--------------
2. (C) Alexander Nastayev, the new Director of the Civil
Aviation Authority under the Kyrgyz Ministry of Transport and
Communications, briefed the Charge December 2 on Kyrgyz civil
aviation sector difficulties. Based on current conditions,
Nastayev said that the Kyrgyz Republic would fail an April 20
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) audit.
(Note: All Kyrgyz air carriers are on a European Union
blacklist due to safety deficiencies. End note.) He
highlighted the need for legislative fixes and training to
overcome current shortcomings, and added that existing
Soviet-era equipment would only remain operable for another
two-three years. Nastayev intimated that replacement
equipment and aircraft would be sourced from western
companies.
Aviation Safety Training
--------------
3. (C) Nastayev said he needed to develop sufficient Civil
Aviation Authority expertise, and hoped to secure aviation
safety training for three employees. (Note: Most Kyrgyz air
traffic originates from Bishkek's Manas International
Airport, which is co-located with the Manas Coalition
Airbase. End note.) He added that he would be meeting with
the World Bank and European Union representatives in the
coming weeks to gauge their abilities to provide training and
related assistance.
A Stronger Directive from ICAO
--------------
4. (C) Nastayev turned to 60 "soft recommendations" ICAO
personnel had recently forwarded to Kyrgyz officials in
advance of the April audit. He said these recommendations
required changes to the Kyrgyz aviation code, and included
the need to incorporate provisions of the 1944 Chicago
Convention on international civil aviation. However,
Nastayev lamented that the Kyrgyz "mentality" required a more
persuasive, direct message from ICAO to ensure that the
parliament adopts necessary measures in a timely manner. "I
can't hit the wall alone," he argued and reiterated the need
for outside support for these changes. Nastayev said he
could not communicate this need to ICAO in writing, but
planned to visit ICAO personnel January 15 and planned to
present his case personally. He concluded by noting that the
Kyrgyz parliament would be reviewing the Kyrgyz aviation code
in late January, and opined that if Kyrgyz parliamentarians
and officials became more aware of Kyrgyz deficiencies
vis-a-vis international requirements then Kyrgyz action would
be expedited.
Comment
--------------
BISHKEK 00001217 002.2 OF 002
5. (C) Nastayev seems to believe that it will take
international pressure, as well as international assistance
in training and equipment, to bring about reforms to
Kyrgyzstan's civil aviation sector. Nastayev's outreach to
the Embassy could represent an opportunity to improve
relations with Kyrgyz civil aviation authorities who have
routine interaction with Manas Airbase operations. At the
conclusion of the meeting, Nastayev said he would be open to
discuss other aviation issues with the Embassy in the future.
We will review what options might be available to help
improve flight safety and operations at Manas airport, and
would welcome more encouragement from ICAO officials to
ensure Kyrgyz action in making their air code compliant with
international standards.
LITZENBERGER