Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MONROVIA258
2009-04-10 14:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Monrovia
Cable title:  

LIBERIA: AIRPORT SECURITY DEFICIENCIES MAY DELAY

Tags:  ASEC EAIR ECON ETRD LI PGOV 
pdf how-to read a cable
R 101408Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0931
INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON DC
DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
DEPT OF TREASURY WASH DC
NSC WASH DC
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
C O N F I D E N T I A L MONROVIA 000258 


DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W, INR/AA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2019
TAGS: ASEC EAIR ECON ETRD LI PGOV
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: AIRPORT SECURITY DEFICIENCIES MAY DELAY
DELTA AIRLINES START-UP

REF: 08 MONROVIA 345


Classified By: Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L MONROVIA 000258


DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W, INR/AA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2019
TAGS: ASEC EAIR ECON ETRD LI PGOV
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: AIRPORT SECURITY DEFICIENCIES MAY DELAY
DELTA AIRLINES START-UP

REF: 08 MONROVIA 345


Classified By: Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: It remains unlikely that Roberts
International Airport (RIA) will meet minimum standards for
certification by the Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) in time for Delta Airlines' scheduled inauguration of
direct flights between the United States and Liberia June 8,
despite remarkable progress in the last 12 months in safety
and security at RIA. A TSA team visiting Monrovia April 5-8
noted significant improvements in the design and
implementation of security measures and has mapped out a
high-impact capacity building program to start in May.
Responsibility for preparing for Delta flights is now firmly
vested in the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA)
following the passage April 2 of the Liberia Airport
Authority Act (LAAA) that consolidates authority for Air
Traffic Control (ATC),security and fire/rescue under the
LCAA, and the resignation February 23 of RIA Managing
Director Abraham Simmons, leaving LCAA Director General
Richelieu Williams in charge of both the LCAA and RIA.
Although there is some suggestion that a proposal for
Lockheed Martin to take over the management of RIA as part of
a 25-year concession agreement might accelerate improvements,
the scope of that contract remains ambiguous and GOL approval
far from certain. President Sirleaf is meeting separately
with Lockheed and Delta officials in Washington DC on or
about April 16 (and with the Secretary of State on April 24)
and it will be important for TSA and the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) to clearly communicate any concerns
regarding the commencement of direct flights to Delta prior
to those meetings and for the USG to reinforce our commitment
to the GOL to support their efforts to meet aviation
requirements without further delay. END SUMMARY.

--------------
TSA finds Liberia airport security
much improved, but still inadequate
--------------


2. (C) The April 5-8 TSA Aviation Security Sustainable
International Standards Team (ASSIST) visit noted

considerable progress in addressing the recommendations from
two previous TSA airport assessments in April 2008 and
February 2009, including enhanced perimeter security,
improved screening, progress on written security policies and
a more rational organizational structure. Nevertheless, the
team reported April 8 that Delta's plan to start flights in
June was "extremely ambitious" given the substantial
weaknesses that remain in quality control, training, and
program development and approval. Delta Airlines
representatives have mentioned that the airline could fill
any gaps in security themselves, but the TSA team noted there
was no precedent for granting such an exception. Members of
the TSA team noted that TSA officials had met with Delta at
the end of March, but it is unclear if TSA has yet
communicated a decision to Delta regarding certification of
RIA for the June flights. The LCAA granted Delta a
provisional Air Service License on March 31 to begin flights
in June.


3. (C) Delta Airlines has already begun advertising for seats
beginning June 8, but Delta corporate security
representatives in town April 6-10 told EmbOffs April 9 in
confidence that they intended to report back to Delta
management that Liberia would be unable to make the necessary
improvements to meet the June 8 deadline. They said
shortfalls in screening procedures, training, quality control
and several other areas were too extensive to repair in only
two months. They expressed a willingness to work with TSA
ASSIST to address remaining deficiencies with an aggressive
capacity building program as soon as possible. They also
said they were aware of the March meeting between TSA and
Delta but were not appraised of the results of that meeting.

--------------
Liberia CAA consolidates control
over aviation safety and security
--------------


4. (C) Several recent developments have put to rest turf
battles between RIA management and LCAA officials regarding
the ultimate authority and responsibility to prepare Liberia
for Delta flights. The Liberian legislature passed April 2
the Liberia Airport Authority Act which, once signed by the
President, will consolidate authority for security, fire and
rescue and air traffic control under the LCAA. Previously
RIA management had exercised some autonomous authority to
manage these services independently from LCAA oversight.
Moreover, following the President's decision to dissolve the
RIA Board of Directors in December 2008 and the resignation
of RIA Managing Director Abraham Simmons on February 23, the
President appointed LCAA Director General Richelieu Williams
as interim Managing Director. Williams later appointed a
colleague, Bill Jones, as interim "General Manager", but in
practice Williams is now firmly in control of both LCAA and
RIA until a Board of Directors for the Liberia Airport
Authority is established in accordance with the new law.
(Note: Both Williams and Jones worked for Pan Am in the
1970s; Pan Am managed RIA from 1941-1984. End note).

--------------
Lockheed Martin Management Contract
for airport remains uncertain
--------------


5. (C) Ultimately, Williams wants the GOL to award a 25-year
concession to Lockheed Martin for the management of RIA, and
possibly other Liberian domestic airports (reftel) as a way
of locking in more responsible security and safety standards.
Lockheed first expressed interest in RIA in April 2008 and
later signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the GOL
in September 2008 to enter into negotiations. Lockheed's
initial contract proposal in December 2008 was not
well-received by cabinet members involved in the
Inter-Ministerial Concession Committee that is responsible
for awarding concession agreements. GOL officials expressed
concern that Lockheed had proposed to take over management
but did not provide any commitment to invest in airport
infrastructure upgrades. One Lockheed official involved in
planning the project conceded in confidence to EconOff in
January that the contract offered very little for Liberia in
return for the concession and that there was significant
internal disagreement within Lockheed regarding the wisdom of
the concession. Lockheed subsidiary Pacific Architects and
Engineers (PAE) is involved in training the Armed Forces of
Liberia and the Liberia National Police, and provides
advisors to the Ministry of Justice. It appears that
Lockheed sees Liberia as a foothold in the expanding Africa
market (to include potential AFRICOM activities),and control
of RIA would assist future endeavors.


6. (C) Williams acknowledges the deal would not include
extensive infrastructure improvements, but says Lockheed
control would improve management, confidence and credibility
that would then allow the Airport Authority to secure
financing for terminal and other upgrades. Williams also
argued that Lockheed management would "take the politics out"
of airport management and put an end to political
interference into airport operations, including constant
requests for VIP exceptions to security rules. Lockheed
Martin officials are preparing a revised contract proposal
for a meeting between President Sirleaf and Lockheed's
Executive Vice President in Washington DC on April 16.

--------------
Comment
--------------


7. (C) COMMENT: Direct air service between the United States
and Liberia is a top priority for both the Sirleaf
administration and the U.S. government. The President
empowered the LCAA and the RIA to do what was necessary to
get the airport ready and aviation officials and staff have
already delivered convincing results in many areas. USG
agencies including USAID, TSA and FAA have given generous
technical and other assistance to Liberia to reach this stage
and the capacity for further, rapid improvement is strong,
even absent a Lockheed Martin contract. The October 2008
announcement that Delta would begin service in June 2009 was
an immediate political boost to the President and unleashed a
wave of excitement and activity to meet the June deadline.
That momentum remains strong. It is vital that any USG
concerns regarding the commencement of direct flights in June
be communicated openly and immediately to the GOL and Delta
so that Delta can make necessary adjustments to their rollout
schedule and the GOL can manage any negative fallout those
concerns might raise. It is also important that relevant USG
agencies move quickly to support the GOL with urgent
assistance to maintain the momentum to meet the standards
required to start direct flights without further delay.

THOMAS-GREENFIELD