Cablegate: Follow-Up On Faa Recommendations On Aviation

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS ANKARA 004488

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

FAA ROME FOR JOYNER
FAA BRUSSELS FOR AEU-1
DEPARTMENT FOR EB AND EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR PGOV TU
SUBJECT: FOLLOW-UP ON FAA RECOMMENDATIONS ON AVIATION
SAFETY OVERSIGHT

REF: 300852Z_ FAA ROME

1. (SBU) EconCouns met with Transportation Deputy U/S Kemal
Albayrak July 16 to reiterate FAA concerns resulting from its
May 21 consultations in Ankara, and to urge the GOT to revise
its legislation to give the Directorate General for Civil
Aviation the authority needed to operate in compliance with
ICAO standards and recommended practices. While welcoming
the improvements the FAA team found, EconCouns highlighted
concerns (reftel) regarding the turnover of DGCA personnel
and Turkish Airlines replacement of key operations and safety
personnel without consultation with DGCA. He specifically
noted that DGCA's inability under current legislation to hire
and fire personnel without the Ministry's approval appeared
to be the main cause of DGCA's personnel problems.

2. (SBU) Albayrak emphasized the GOT's seriousness on air
safety issues and its willingness to work with the FAA,
including welcoming an FAA assessment of DGCA's safety
oversight capability later this year. While politely
questioning the assertion that most of the DGCA staff have
limited experience, Albayrak acknowledged most of the
concerns raised by FAA. He said the Ministry expects to
address most if not all of these issues via new legislation,
which he has drafted and which is now circulating within the
government.

PEARSON

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