NEW CIVIL AIR AGENCY TAKES CHARGE

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000117 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EEB/TRA, TRANSPORTATION FOR FAA, MOSCOW FOR FAA FIELD OFFICE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ECON HR PGOV SUBJECT: NEW CIVIL AIR AGENCY TAKES CHARGE REF: ZAGREB 73 ¶1. Summary. The new Croatian Civil Aviation Agency (CCAA) assumed authority over all civil aviation oversight activities in Croatia on March 2, 2009. The CCAA will also absorb 90 percent of the staff of the former civil aviation authority within the Ministry of Transport. This key reform in civil aviation oversight has not gone unchallenged, however, and the Ministry reportedly continues to push for new aviation legislation that could compromise the independence of the CCAA. End summary. ¶2. The Director of the new Croatian Civil Aviation Agency (CCAA) informed econoff on February 27 that the agency was set to assume its statutory responsibility for all civil aviation oversight, licensing, and certification on March 2, ¶2009. The CCAA will also welcome 25 employees of the old civil air authority this week. The civil air authority will continue to exist under the Minister of Transport and will act as the primary agency for international agreements. ¶3. The director reported that the CCAA has achieved its benchmark goals for establishing its oversight capability and meeting international norms in all areas except one: he reported they are well behind schedule in organization and management of records, which until only a few years ago were poorly kept and incomplete. They said they have been pleased with the response to the advertisements for technical experts, have identified several, and are in the process of interviews for the rest. The director had previously reported problems finding qualified pilots to act as flight certification inspectors (see reftel) but now reports they have engaged all necessary staff in this area, including a pilot with over 12,000 flight hours, certified on major commercial Boeing and Airbus aircraft in use in Croatia. ¶4. (SBU) The director continues to report efforts by the Ministry of Transport to get the agency back under the umbrella of the ministry. A draft law on aviation, which would have decreased the independence of the CCAA, was reportedly rejected by EU experts who are conducting their own aviation safety assessment process. A second law is under discussion, but the CCAA director could not tell us what it contained because the CCAA has not been consulted or involved in the process in any way. The director views this as another attempt by the old civil air authority and the ministry to subvert the reform process, and undermine the CCAA, which this week will swallow 90 percent of its previous staff. ¶5. Comment: Government inertia has been a problem throughout this reform process, and it is not surprising to hear that the Ministry is working to reassert control over the CCAA, whose essential independence is a key aspect of Croatia's civil air reform. (The CCAA told us their board of directors was appointed 14 months after the agency was created on paper, and they felt only then because the Ambassador had raised the issue of civil air reform with Prime Minister Sanader.) But it was a pleasant surprise to hear that the EU is taking an active role to ensure the key elements of the reorganization remain in place. The CCAA now enters a critical month. It must quickly get on its feet, assert its authority, and show it has the capability to manage civil aviation oversight in line with international norms. BRADTKE