CIVAIR CHIEF: BANGLADESH WANTS TO ENGAGE FAA

UNCLAS DHAKA 000770 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/INSB AND SCA/RA STATE PASS TO USTDA FOR JACOB FLEWELLING STATE PASS TO FAA FOR THOMAS NASKOVIAK NEW DELHI PASS TO FAA AARON WILKINS MONTREAL FOR FAA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ECON ETRD BEXP BG SUBJECT: CIVAIR CHIEF: BANGLADESH WANTS TO ENGAGE FAA ON CATEGORY ONE APPROVAL TO FLY BOEINGS TO U.S. REF A. DHAKA 739 AND PREVIOUS (NOTAL) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) In an August 2 meeting with Emboffs, Sakeb Majlis, the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) expressed hope that national carrier Biman Airlines would restart flights from Dhaka to New York, emphasizing the Government of Bangladesh's (GOB) determination to obtain Category 1 approval from the FAA. Sakeb said he hoped the FAA would visit Bangladesh and promised to share the results of an ICAO audit of the CAAB when it is complete. End summary. WILL SHARE ICAO AUDIT -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Emboffs called on Air Commodore Sakeb Iqbal Khan Majlis, the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), on August 2 to discuss press reports claiming that a recent ICAO audit of CAAB's operations had identified a number of safety and security shortcomings. (Note. The CAAB is responsible for all elements of civil aviation in Bangladesh, including the physical infrastructure (airports, runways) and licensing, safety and security of aircraft and airlines. End note.) Sakeb explained that the ICAO report would not be complete for another 3 months, although ICAO had already identified some areas for CAAB to strengthen. For example, Sakeb said, ICAO noted that the CAAB needed to strengthen its organization, specifically through a new law and increased staff for inspections. FAA CAT 1 STATUS A "REQUIREMENT" -------------- ¶3. (U) Sakeb emphasized that obtaining Category 1 status to allow Biman flights to the US is "a requirement, not just a priority" for the GOB. Such flights would likely fly through Brussels or London, as Biman had done before, he averred. According to Sakeb, the FAA last conducted an assessment of the CAAB in 1997, at which point CAAB passed on 3 out of 7 criteria. He said he had spoken with FAA counterparts on the sidelines of recent multilateral meetings in China and Malaysia and wanted to maintain close contact with his USG counterparts. BOEING 777s FOR NY ROUTE -------------- ¶4. (U) Sakeb declared that Biman's New York route would be flown by "the new Boeing 777s." Sakeb conceded that some individuals were lobbying for Airbus to supplant Boeing's deal with Biman. The Civair chief expressed confidence that the Boeing deal would go through, despite "some financial difficulties" that he implied might, in part, explain the delay (reftels). PROPOSED USTDA PROJECT: "TOO MANY GREY AREAS" -------------- -------------- ¶5. (U) Asked about the CAAB's position on the USTDA's April 2008 offer to fund FAA technical assistance, Sakeb said that the proposed "MOU" (his term) had many "grey areas" for the CAAB. Sakeb explained that the CAAB had not moved forward with an earlier (unspecified) offer of FAA assistance, because CAAB wasn't able to obtain the necessary financing to bring FAA officials to Bangladesh. Emboffs encouraged Sakeb to engage on the USTDA proposal. COMMENT: GOB ENGAGING WITH THE FAA -------------- ¶6. (U) Sakeb said he hoped to meet with the FAA representative at the upcoming Director General's of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conference in Japan in October. He proposed to share the ICAO audit with the FAA and then invite the FAA to visit Bangladesh to conduct an on-the-ground assessment of the CAAB. Post will coordinate with FAA and USTDA to facilitate communication with the CAAB and jumpstart TDA's proposal to fund FAA technical assistance, part of our concerted effort to support Boeing and promote aviation safety. MORIARTY.