Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LONDON1185
2009-05-19 16:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy London
Cable title:
AIRCRAFT IN EXETER NOT EN ROUTE TO SYRIA (CHAM
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHLO #1185 1391620 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 191620Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY LONDON TO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2356 INFO RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 0360 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 1235
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 001185
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2019
TAGS: EAIR ETRD ETTC PGOV PREL UK
SUBJECT: AIRCRAFT IN EXETER NOT EN ROUTE TO SYRIA (CHAM
PEARL AIRWAY)
REF: SECSTATE 49690
Classified By: KATHLEEN DOHERTY, A/ECON MIN COUNSELOR, FOR REASONS 1.4
B&D
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 001185
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2019
TAGS: EAIR ETRD ETTC PGOV PREL UK
SUBJECT: AIRCRAFT IN EXETER NOT EN ROUTE TO SYRIA (CHAM
PEARL AIRWAY)
REF: SECSTATE 49690
Classified By: KATHLEEN DOHERTY, A/ECON MIN COUNSELOR, FOR REASONS 1.4
B&D
1. (C) We delivered reftel talking points and the Temporary
Denial Order (TDO) to the British Foreign Office's (FCO)
Americas Desk and Flybe, the company carrying out repair of
the Orion aircraft, on May 15, and to the UK Department for
Transport (DfT) on May 19. HMG officials were vaguely aware
of the issue through contact with BAE and their embassy in
Washington, but had not planned to take any action. They
understood the ball to be in BAE's court as to what to do
next.
2. (C) David Knight and Lennie Kent, Flybe officials, agreed
that BAE was key to resolving this issue. Flybe, according
to Knight and Kent, have almost finished work on the plane,
and are waiting for BAE to provide diagrams of the
Orion-owned BAE plane in order to fulfill Flybe's maintenance
and repair contract. As of May 15, BAE had not yet provided
the diagrams, and didn't indicate to Flybe if or when they
would do so. Orion had originally requested the plane be
finished by May 20 or 21. Flybe claims to have a
four-to-five year relationship with Orion, during which it
serviced many planes for the then-Spanish company. A month
ago Orion was bought by another company. Flybe's contract,
according to Kent, is to service the plane only. Flybe will
not deliver the plane to either Spain or Syria, although they
agreed that the latter is the likely ultimate destination.
The company would like to fulfill its contractual obligation,
unless it is expressly prohibited by the TDO. In addition to
delays incurred while awaiting BAE's diagrams, Kent told us
Flybe will not turn over the keys to Orion until it is clear
the USG won't legally object. We pointed Flybe to Commerce's
BIS contacts for further guidance.
3. (U) POC for Flybe CEO David Knight, mobile phone: 44 0
7814 471 465. Please disregard the mobile number for Mr.
Kent provided in reftel - he lost the phone on Disney's Space
Mountain. Embassy POC will be John Coronado, FCS, 44 20 7894
0419; John.Coronado@mail.doc.gov.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom
LEBARON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2019
TAGS: EAIR ETRD ETTC PGOV PREL UK
SUBJECT: AIRCRAFT IN EXETER NOT EN ROUTE TO SYRIA (CHAM
PEARL AIRWAY)
REF: SECSTATE 49690
Classified By: KATHLEEN DOHERTY, A/ECON MIN COUNSELOR, FOR REASONS 1.4
B&D
1. (C) We delivered reftel talking points and the Temporary
Denial Order (TDO) to the British Foreign Office's (FCO)
Americas Desk and Flybe, the company carrying out repair of
the Orion aircraft, on May 15, and to the UK Department for
Transport (DfT) on May 19. HMG officials were vaguely aware
of the issue through contact with BAE and their embassy in
Washington, but had not planned to take any action. They
understood the ball to be in BAE's court as to what to do
next.
2. (C) David Knight and Lennie Kent, Flybe officials, agreed
that BAE was key to resolving this issue. Flybe, according
to Knight and Kent, have almost finished work on the plane,
and are waiting for BAE to provide diagrams of the
Orion-owned BAE plane in order to fulfill Flybe's maintenance
and repair contract. As of May 15, BAE had not yet provided
the diagrams, and didn't indicate to Flybe if or when they
would do so. Orion had originally requested the plane be
finished by May 20 or 21. Flybe claims to have a
four-to-five year relationship with Orion, during which it
serviced many planes for the then-Spanish company. A month
ago Orion was bought by another company. Flybe's contract,
according to Kent, is to service the plane only. Flybe will
not deliver the plane to either Spain or Syria, although they
agreed that the latter is the likely ultimate destination.
The company would like to fulfill its contractual obligation,
unless it is expressly prohibited by the TDO. In addition to
delays incurred while awaiting BAE's diagrams, Kent told us
Flybe will not turn over the keys to Orion until it is clear
the USG won't legally object. We pointed Flybe to Commerce's
BIS contacts for further guidance.
3. (U) POC for Flybe CEO David Knight, mobile phone: 44 0
7814 471 465. Please disregard the mobile number for Mr.
Kent provided in reftel - he lost the phone on Disney's Space
Mountain. Embassy POC will be John Coronado, FCS, 44 20 7894
0419; John.Coronado@mail.doc.gov.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom
LEBARON