SHOOTDOWN: VISIT TO CINDACTA IV

UNCLAS BRASILIA 001124 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/BSC AND L E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL SNAR MOPS BR SUBJECT: SHOOTDOWN: VISIT TO CINDACTA IV REF: A. STATE 54183 ¶B. STATE 70837 ¶C. BRASILIA 806 ¶D. 07 BRASILIA 1868 ¶1. In late July, a team from MLO Brasilia and SOUTHCOM visited CINDACTA IV, the regional air traffic control center responsible for almost fifty percent of Brazil's territory and controlling the most commonly used routes for drug traffickers. The team reported that the CINDACTA was working efficiently and professionally, with modern equipment much in evidence. (Comment: This could be a result of Minister Jobim's efforts to ensure that Brazil's air traffic control system has the resources to improve its overall performance. End Comment) According to MLO, the controllers there demonstrated "excellent awareness" of traffic in the CINDACTA's AOR. ¶2. In response to questions from the U.S. team, controllers were well aware of shootdown procedures but were not authorized to share them at that time. Local controllers confirmed that they did not have the authority to order a shootdown. Controllers were able to confirm that no shootdown had ever been ordered in their AOR and that the chances were remote that one ever would be. Nevertheless, they were able to state that the shootdown law has led to a marked decrease in the number of illegal trafficking flights in their region, even though intercepts have been infrequent. (Note: In the first half of 2007, the Brazilian Air Force reported successful intercepts of all forty suspect tracks detected and two forced landings. End Note) ¶3. COMMENT: The situation encountered at CINDACTA IV matches our expectations as reported in ref d. CINDACTAS have no shootdown authority of their own. We are still seeking specific information as to Brazil's procedures for ordering a shootdown from Air Defense Command Headquarters (COMDABRA) in Brasilia. SOBEL