Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CANBERRA1040
2009-11-25 06:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Canberra
Cable title:
FAA'S UPCOMING ASSESSMENT OF AUSTRALIAN CIVIL
how-toVZCZCXRO7887 RR RUEHPT DE RUEHBY #1040 3290604 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 250604Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2345 INFO RUEHBN/AMCONSUL MELBOURNE 6794 RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH 5060 RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 5062 RHMCSUU/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC RHMCSUU/FAA WESTERN PACIFIC RGN HQ LOS ANGELES CA RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS CANBERRA 001040
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/ANP, EEB/TRA
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION FOR ELIE NASR
(INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL SUPPORT BRANCH/FLIGHT STANDARDS
SERVICE)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR AS
SUBJECT: FAA'S UPCOMING ASSESSMENT OF AUSTRALIAN CIVIL
AVIATION
REF: STATE 119313
UNCLAS CANBERRA 001040
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/ANP, EEB/TRA
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION FOR ELIE NASR
(INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL SUPPORT BRANCH/FLIGHT STANDARDS
SERVICE)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR AS
SUBJECT: FAA'S UPCOMING ASSESSMENT OF AUSTRALIAN CIVIL
AVIATION
REF: STATE 119313
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Australian aviation authorities will
release a statement on the FAA's upcoming assessment of
Australia's civil aviation, which is scheduled for November
30 - December 4 (reftel). The government release will be out
in the next day and could be in the press as early as Friday,
November 27. Post would appreciate press guidance in case
this becomes an issue. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Terry Farquharson, head of the host delegation from
the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA),
alerted Econoff November 25 that the office of Minister
Albanese (Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional
Development and Local Government, which oversees CASA) had
decided, against CASA's recommendation, to carry out a press
release regarding the upcoming FAA assessment. In the coming
day, CASA will post the statement (a draft of which
Farquharson read to Econoff) on its website and will conduct
an interview with a reporter, with a strong possibility that
an article may appear in the aviation section of "The
Australian" newspaper's Friday edition. It should be noted
that the draft release did not contain anything controversial
and points out that the assessment visit is being conducted
at the request of CASA.
3. (SBU) CASA's view is that the press exposure may
unnecessarily complicate the conduct of the assessment, given
that at its core, the assessment is an attempt to clear the
record from a previous audit in which several shortcoming
were identified (see reftel). The Ministry's office
preferred to carry out the release for the sake of
transparency and in order to preempt after-the-fact
questioning of what the Minister knew or did not know prior
to the FAA teams arrival.
4. (SBU) Comment: We are in close contact with both FAA and
CASA and are facilitating final coordination of the visit.
We do not anticipate this media release will become a
problem, but do expect questions from the press. We would
appreciate press guidance from the Department and/or FAA.
BLEICH
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/ANP, EEB/TRA
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION FOR ELIE NASR
(INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL SUPPORT BRANCH/FLIGHT STANDARDS
SERVICE)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR AS
SUBJECT: FAA'S UPCOMING ASSESSMENT OF AUSTRALIAN CIVIL
AVIATION
REF: STATE 119313
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Australian aviation authorities will
release a statement on the FAA's upcoming assessment of
Australia's civil aviation, which is scheduled for November
30 - December 4 (reftel). The government release will be out
in the next day and could be in the press as early as Friday,
November 27. Post would appreciate press guidance in case
this becomes an issue. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Terry Farquharson, head of the host delegation from
the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA),
alerted Econoff November 25 that the office of Minister
Albanese (Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional
Development and Local Government, which oversees CASA) had
decided, against CASA's recommendation, to carry out a press
release regarding the upcoming FAA assessment. In the coming
day, CASA will post the statement (a draft of which
Farquharson read to Econoff) on its website and will conduct
an interview with a reporter, with a strong possibility that
an article may appear in the aviation section of "The
Australian" newspaper's Friday edition. It should be noted
that the draft release did not contain anything controversial
and points out that the assessment visit is being conducted
at the request of CASA.
3. (SBU) CASA's view is that the press exposure may
unnecessarily complicate the conduct of the assessment, given
that at its core, the assessment is an attempt to clear the
record from a previous audit in which several shortcoming
were identified (see reftel). The Ministry's office
preferred to carry out the release for the sake of
transparency and in order to preempt after-the-fact
questioning of what the Minister knew or did not know prior
to the FAA teams arrival.
4. (SBU) Comment: We are in close contact with both FAA and
CASA and are facilitating final coordination of the visit.
We do not anticipate this media release will become a
problem, but do expect questions from the press. We would
appreciate press guidance from the Department and/or FAA.
BLEICH