VZCZCXRO7921
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0776 2660633
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 220633Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8453
RUEDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0221
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 149
INFO RUCNSAD/SADC COLLECTIVE
RUEHXR/RWANDA CLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLSWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHNGEN GE
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000776
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE PASS DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION
USID FOR OFDA: MSHIRLEY and AFR/EA
E.O. 12958: N/
TAGS: EAIR ECON PGOV CG
SUBJECT: GDRC INVITS NTSB TO ASSIST WITH AIR SERV CRASH
INVESTIGATIN
REF: KINSHASA 725
KINSHASA 349
KINSHASA 37
1. (SBU) Summary: The GDRC Civil Aviation Authority (AAC) extended
an invitation verbally through Econoff for the NTSB to assist in the
investigation of the September Air Serv crash near Bukavu (Ref A).
The NTSB ivestigator hopes to bring the Flight Data Recorder ack
to the U.S. for analysis as the first step i the investigation.
The AAC is also currently hoting a conference to draft proposals
for updatedlegislation to civil aviation code in the DRC. En
Summary.
2. (U) The Director of the GDRC Civl Aviation Authority (AAC),
Richard Nyanguile, tld Econoff on September 17 that the NTSB
investiator has been invited to assist in the September 1Air Serv
crash investigation. The investigator hat has been named the
NTSB's U.S. Accredited Repesentative, and who is currently in
Nairobi, als assisted with the April 15 Hewa Bora crash (Refs and
C). He expects to arrive in Kinshasa the wek of September 22, and
hopes to begin the invesigation by transferring the Flight Data
Recorder FDR) to the NTSB for analysis. Nyanguile said he grees
with the NTSB's plan of action and that th FDR is currently in
Kinshasa.
3. (SBU) The 9-seat Beechcraft 1900 had crashed on a steep slop
near Bukavu, making access to the crash site dificult. UN
peacekeepers finally reached the siteon September 4 by getting
lowered from helicoptes in slings. The peacekeepers helped to
evacuat all seventeen bodies and successfully recovered te FDR.
The AAC waited two weeks befor inviting the NTSB, a sign the GDRC
may be wary of any reports that could further damage the DRC's
already poor aviation safety record.
4. (SBU) Nyanguile is currently hosting a conference September
18-19 to work on proposed legislation to update the Congolese civil
aviation code. Nyanguile said the DRC is using obsolete aviation
laws inherited from the colonial era. The NTSB investigator will
have the opportunity to share his views on the outcome of this
conference when he meets with the AAC.
GARVELINK