FAA INTERNATIONAL AVIATION SAFETY ASSESSMENT CONSULTATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRETORIA 001791 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EB/TRA/OTP MONTREAL FOR USICAO FAA HQ FOR API-1/AFS-50/AGC-7; DOT FOR X45/C20 DAKAR FOR FAA REP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EAIR SF SUBJECT: FAA INTERNATIONAL AVIATION SAFETY ASSESSMENT CONSULTATION WITH SACAA SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED REF: (A) STATE 8052, (B) PRETORIA 00937 PRETORIA 00001791 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. The FAA has successfully concluded formal International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) consultation meetings with the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), validating South Africa's safety oversight system. Key stakeholders participated in the final outcomes meeting at the Department of Transport (DOT) and discussed continuing bilateral cooperation. Officials reiterated a willingness to engage with the U.S. on liberalizing air frequencies, while acknowledging that Open Skies negotiations were not likely to be successful at this point. End Summary. -------------- IASA Consultation Meetings Concluded -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The FAA has successfully concluded formal IASA consultation meetings with the SACAA in Midrand, Johannesburg. The consultation team led by Fred Walker was accompanied by the FAA Representative for Africa Moira Keane and the meetings took place July 30-31. The FAA consultation team validated the sustainability of South Africa's safety oversight system and determined that it met International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) minimum standards. (Note: A final determination will only be confirmed officially by FAA once the consultation team submits its report to FAA headquarters. End Note.) ¶3. (SBU) The team verified the completion of corrective measures identified in the SACAA action plan during the December 2007 consultation meeting (ref A). The team validated the hiring and training of adequate inspectors, the implementation of a surveillance plan, and the resolution of safety issues. The FAA team expressed its gratitude for the thorough briefing and documentation provided by SACAA during this follow-up visit. ¶4. (SBU) The Director General of Transport Mpumi Mpofu, Department of Foreign Affairs USA Officer Fadl Nacerodien, SACAA officials, and Embassy staff participated in the final outcomes meeting at the DOT headquarters in Pretoria on July 31. SACAA Chairman/CEO Captain Colin Jordaan thanked the FAA team for its positive engagement throughout the IASA consultation process. SAG officials acknowledged that the initial IASA consultations in July 2007 had helped South Africa to focus on aviation safety priorities. -------------- Continued Bilateral Engagement -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Mpofu thanked FAA and Embassy for their positive engagement with South African officials and encouraged continued bilateral cooperation in the aviation sector. She acknowledged that ramping up capacity was a difficult undertaking, but stated that the IASA process was "one of the best learning experiences" for the SACAA and DOT. She noted that the IASA consultations provided momentum for South Africa to improve its safety oversight capacity, but added that the South African Government (SAG) considered meeting IASA minimum standards as the first step in improving oversight capacity. Mpofi emphasized that South Africa would have to continue to improve this capacity to keep in line with growth in the aviation industry and increasingly stringent international standards. South Africa hopes to model itself as a leader in the African aviation sector and would welcome bilateral engagement with the U.S. on this Qsector and would welcome bilateral engagement with the U.S. on this issue. ¶6. (SBU) Mpofu would like to export the lessons learned from South Africa's experience with the IASA process to the rest of the South African Development Community (SADC) region and other African nations. She indicated that South Africa has close working relations with the U.S. ICAO representative on climate change issues and would like to extend cooperation in other areas as South Africa addresses challenges in African civil aviation. She identified rising fuel prices and transport costs as a shared challenge. South Africa successfully lobbied to host the ICAO Special Africa-Indian Ocean Regional Air Navigation (AFIRAN) Meeting in Durban in November ¶2008. Mpofu hopes to use the Durban meeting to promote the development of clear strategic plans to address deficiencies and promote aircraft maintenance. ¶7. (SBU) Keane welcomed Mpofu's call for increased bilateral cooperation and indicated that FAA has developed an Africa-wide PRETORIA 00001791 002.2 OF 002 strategy for 2008-2009 that will focus on ten priority countries. Keane encouraged the SAG to work with the State Department to identify candidates for the International Visitors Leadership Program. Keane said the U.S. provided air traffic control advice to Uganda for VIP visits during the 2007 Commonwealth of Nations Meetings and would be willing to make a request to FAA's air traffic representatives to provide similar advice to South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Mpofu expressed appreciation for the offer and said she would ask the 2010 aviation task team to follow-up with requests for assistance. -------------- 2010 Provides Momentum for Liberalizing Airlift Strategy -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Mpofu reiterated her willingness to engage with the U.S. on liberalizing air frequencies, while acknowledging that the time was not right for full Open Skies negotiations. She discussed the matter with Deputy Secretary Admiral Barrett during his visit to Cape Town in April (ref B). She noted that South Africa is still working through the African Union on the Yamoussoukro Agreement, which outlines the process for aviation liberalization within the African Union and has precedence over any member-states' bilateral or multilateral Open Skies agreements. However, DOT Chief of Civil Aviation Anwar Gany told Transport Officer that the negotiations with "Francophone countries were extremely difficult and unlikely to bear results any time soon." As a result, the South African Government (SAG) is pursuing liberalized airlift strategies for the World Cup on a bilateral basis. DOT officials described the airlift strategy as "eighty percent Open Skies." ¶9. (SBU) Gany said several bilateral negotiations have already been successfully concluded. The SAG recently announced increased frequencies to the U.K., South Korea, and Australia. Negotiations with New Zealand are currently underway. Mpofu said she would like to see increased frequencies to the U.S. also. She noted that frequencies to New York were fine, but would like to see more frequencies to Atlanta and Los Angeles. Mpofu stated that Gany and his team were available to engage with the U.S. on airlift strategies. ¶10. (SBU) Comment. All stakeholders were pleased with the completion of the IASA formal consultation meetings and looked forward to receiving the official determination from FAA headquarters. SAG officials expressed a desire to continue to work with the USG on civil aviation issues throughout the African continent. In particular, there is a strong desire to engage with the U.S. on increasing air frequencies. They acknowledged the importance of the U.S. tourism market and would like to take advantage of the impetus provided by the World Cup to boost air traffic with the U.S. South Africa has already successfully negotiated several bilateral airlift strategies (e.g. U.K. and Australia) and it could serve as a step towards eventual Open Skies negotiations. However, rising fuel prices have already weakened the potential of the increased frequencies granted by the new agreements. South African Airways and British Airways have already announced that they will not be able to take advantage of all of the increased frequencies between the U.K. and South Africa due to Qincreased frequencies between the U.K. and South Africa due to rising fuel costs. BOST