CIVAIR: VIOLATION OF FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000100 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EEB/TRA/OTP WHA/CAR FOR JROSHOLT FAA FOR AGC-330 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR NS SUBJECT: CIVAIR: VIOLATION OF FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS (ERIC GOEDE) REF: A. STATE 011456 ¶B. DOCKET NO. 2007EA290018 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. In response to Reftel and Docket No. 2007EA290018, regarding a July 26, 2007, Surinam Airways-operated Boeing 747-300 violation of Federal Aviation Regulations, Post requested Vivian Hanenberg, Director of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASAS),to provide information on CASAS actions in response to the violation. Hanenberg advised that Eric Goede (pilot) reported the incident to CASAS on July 26, 2007. CASAS conducted an investigation which determined that violations took place: deficiencies regarding navigational procedures existed in the Surinam Airways Basic Operations Manual, acts by the Flight Engineer could have served as a precaution, and procedures related to ATC clearances and re-clearances were deficient. The CASAS investigation also found that Surinam Airways Safety Department investigation procedures were inadequate, and CASAS is in the process of reviewing the handling of incidents by Surinam Airways investigators. Regarding enforcement actions against the pilot, since he made the initial violation report to CASAS, the CASAS recommendation was that no enforcement action be taken against him. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) As per Reftel and Docket No. 2007EA290018, Post requested Vivian Hanenberg, Director of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASAS),to provide an explanation of CASAS actions taken subsequent to the July 26, 2007, violation of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 C.F.R.91.13 and 91.123) by the Surinam Airways-operated Boeing 747-300 with Nationality and Registration markings PZ-TCM, piloted by Mr. Eric Goede. In response, Hanenberg provided the following letter: -------------- TEXT OF LETTER -------------- ¶3. (SBU) With reference to your letter and the telephone conversation with Rashidie Frangie pertaining to the incident that occurred on the 26th of July 2007, involving a Surinam Airways operated Boeing 747-300 with Nationality & Registration markings, PZ-TCM, kindly take note of the following. The Flight Safety Division of this office initiated an investigation in to (SIC) the cause(s) of this incident on the same date of the incident after having received a phone call from mr. Eric Goede, the PIC of the Surinam Airways B743, who initially reported the incident to this office. Subsequently this incident was also reported to this office by mr. Thomas McMannus of the FAA New York IFO. During the course of the investigation documents were exchanged between mr. Richard Martin, the FAA inspector assigned to investigate this matter and mr. Brian de Souza, the Flight Safety Division Manager of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Suriname. The investigation conducted by this office concentrated itself on the possible violation of the Civil Aviation Regulations of Suriname (CARS) by mr. Eric Goede and the communication and navigation procedures in general and those of the North Atlantic Minimum Navigation Performance Specifications Airspace in specific. Following are the findings and observations made during the investigation and the recommendations made by the investigation team. These recommendations were sent as directives to Surinam Airways by this office. 1) It was determined that violations of CARS Part 8 articles 8.8.2.2 pertaining to the adherence to ATC clearances by the PIC, article 8.5.1.3 Negligent or Reckless operation of aircraft had taken place. From the investigation conducted by this office it was determined that these violations of the CARS were not carried out willfully. 2) The review of communication and navigation procedures in the Surinam Airways Basic Operations Manual revealed some deficiencies with regard to navigational procedures in the NAT MNPS Airspace; 3) The involvement of the Flight Engineer with regard to communications being conducted between ATC and other stations was evaluated. It was determined by the investigators that his/her involvement in these procedures could have been one more defense mechanism that could have prevented this incident from occurring. 4) Procedures with regard to the handling of ATC clearances and re-clearances was found to be inadequate; this included procedures for the recording of those clearances on flight plans. 5) Procedures utilized by the Surinam Airways Safety Dep. for the conduct of incident investigations were found to be inadequate. Taking into account the assistance received from the flight crew involved in this incident during the investigation and the fact that mr. Goede reported this incident in a timely manner to this office and prior to its knowledge thereof, the recommendation was made not to carry out any enforcement action against mr. Goede. Items 2, 3, 4 have already been addressed in an acceptable manner by Surinam Airways. Item 5 is still open as this office is in the process of reviewing the handling of incidents by Surinam Airways. Part of this process involved the conduct of formal Incident and Accident investigation training for Surinam Airways investigators. This training was conducted from the 11th up to the 16th of Feb. 2008. ¶4. (U) Post will return the case file Docket No. 2007EA290018 with the original copy of the Hanenberg letter to EEB/TRA/OTP via unclassified pouch. Post POC is Political-Economic Chief Geneve Menscher (menscherge@state.gov; Tel. (597) 472-900 ext. 2205; Fax. (597) 420-800). SCHREIBER HUGHES