Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LAGOS357
2009-09-08 17:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Lagos
Cable title:
NIGERIAN FLIGHTS TO THE USA: TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF?
how-toVZCZCXRO0601 RR RUEHPA DE RUEHOS #0357 2511719 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 081719Z SEP 09 FM AMCONSUL LAGOS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0941 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 0529 RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000357
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USAID FOR NFREEMAN, GBERTOLIN
DOC FOR 3317/ITA/OA/KBURRESS
DOC FOR 3310/USFC/OIO/ANESA/DHARRIS
DOC FOR USPTO-PAUL SALMON
DOJ FOR MARI-FLORE KOUAME
TREASURY FOR RHALL, DPETERS
STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER
STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN, MSTUCKART, JEDWARDS
STATE PASS TDA FOR LFITTS, PMARIN
STATE PASS TO TRANSPORTATION/FAA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2019
TAGS: EAIR ECON PGOV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIAN FLIGHTS TO THE USA: TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF?
Classified By: Consul General Donna M. Blair for reasons 1.4 (B) & (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000357
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USAID FOR NFREEMAN, GBERTOLIN
DOC FOR 3317/ITA/OA/KBURRESS
DOC FOR 3310/USFC/OIO/ANESA/DHARRIS
DOC FOR USPTO-PAUL SALMON
DOJ FOR MARI-FLORE KOUAME
TREASURY FOR RHALL, DPETERS
STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER
STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN, MSTUCKART, JEDWARDS
STATE PASS TDA FOR LFITTS, PMARIN
STATE PASS TO TRANSPORTATION/FAA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2019
TAGS: EAIR ECON PGOV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIAN FLIGHTS TO THE USA: TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF?
Classified By: Consul General Donna M. Blair for reasons 1.4 (B) & (D)
1. (C) Summary: Visiting FAA representatives report that the
Nigerian Civil Aviation Agency (NCAA) is
close to meeting all eight requirements for Category 1 status
for Nigerian carriers to fly to the United
States and that it could gain that status as soon as
mid-2010. End Summary.
Status of CAT-1
--------------
2. (C) At the end of a three-week visit, FAA Inspector Larry
Williams and team told Lagos Econoff that the
NCAA would most likely pass the first six of eight elements
of CAT-1 status: autonomy, administration,
personnel, security, licensing, and training. FAA legal
counsel staff added that the NCAA would most likely
meet the remaining two CAT-1 elements, compliance and
enforcement.
3. (C) In early October, a team from the NCAA will travel to
Washington, D.C., to enable FAA legal staff to
review NCAA manuals covering maintenance schedules, pilot and
flight crew training, and other areas. Once
this happens, the next step will be an International Air
Transportation Association (IATA)visit to Nigeria
to conduct the International Air Transportation Association
Safety Audit (IOSA). Once the IOSA is passed,
CAT-1 status will be granted, which could mean that Nigerian
airlines could be granted permission as soon as
mid-2010 to fly to the United States.
Who will fly to the USA?
--------------
4. (C) The FAA indicated that Arik, Virgin Nigeria and
Bellview are candidates to fly to the U.S., although
each airline has issues. Arik has problems servicing the
loans on its Boeing aircraft, Virgin Nigeria is
apparently focused on becoming a regional airline, and
Bellview,s safety record is sufficiently problematic
that USG employees are barred from using it.
5. (U) This cable was cleared with Embassy Abuja.
BLAIR
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USAID FOR NFREEMAN, GBERTOLIN
DOC FOR 3317/ITA/OA/KBURRESS
DOC FOR 3310/USFC/OIO/ANESA/DHARRIS
DOC FOR USPTO-PAUL SALMON
DOJ FOR MARI-FLORE KOUAME
TREASURY FOR RHALL, DPETERS
STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER
STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN, MSTUCKART, JEDWARDS
STATE PASS TDA FOR LFITTS, PMARIN
STATE PASS TO TRANSPORTATION/FAA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2019
TAGS: EAIR ECON PGOV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIAN FLIGHTS TO THE USA: TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF?
Classified By: Consul General Donna M. Blair for reasons 1.4 (B) & (D)
1. (C) Summary: Visiting FAA representatives report that the
Nigerian Civil Aviation Agency (NCAA) is
close to meeting all eight requirements for Category 1 status
for Nigerian carriers to fly to the United
States and that it could gain that status as soon as
mid-2010. End Summary.
Status of CAT-1
--------------
2. (C) At the end of a three-week visit, FAA Inspector Larry
Williams and team told Lagos Econoff that the
NCAA would most likely pass the first six of eight elements
of CAT-1 status: autonomy, administration,
personnel, security, licensing, and training. FAA legal
counsel staff added that the NCAA would most likely
meet the remaining two CAT-1 elements, compliance and
enforcement.
3. (C) In early October, a team from the NCAA will travel to
Washington, D.C., to enable FAA legal staff to
review NCAA manuals covering maintenance schedules, pilot and
flight crew training, and other areas. Once
this happens, the next step will be an International Air
Transportation Association (IATA)visit to Nigeria
to conduct the International Air Transportation Association
Safety Audit (IOSA). Once the IOSA is passed,
CAT-1 status will be granted, which could mean that Nigerian
airlines could be granted permission as soon as
mid-2010 to fly to the United States.
Who will fly to the USA?
--------------
4. (C) The FAA indicated that Arik, Virgin Nigeria and
Bellview are candidates to fly to the U.S., although
each airline has issues. Arik has problems servicing the
loans on its Boeing aircraft, Virgin Nigeria is
apparently focused on becoming a regional airline, and
Bellview,s safety record is sufficiently problematic
that USG employees are barred from using it.
5. (U) This cable was cleared with Embassy Abuja.
BLAIR