Cablegate: Nasa Hythirm Project: Nicaragua National Assembly Approves Overflight Permission for First Six Month of 2010

VZCZCXRO7089
RR RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHHO RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS
DE RUEHMU #0037/01 0251523
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 251523Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA
TO RUEANAT/NASA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0572
INFO WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/USAID WASHDC 0008
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0001
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAGUA 000037

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPA TSPL MOPS PREL NU
SUBJECT: NASA HYTHIRM PROJECT: Nicaragua National Assembly Approves Overflight Permission for first six month of 2010

REF: A) 2010 JAN 14 - GROSS TO NYCE EMAIL; B) 2010 STATE 3837 C) 2009 MANAGUA 868; D) 2009 STATE 77073

1. (U) On December 3, the publication "La Gaceta" (Nicaragua's "Federal Register" equivalent) contained the text of a decree in which the Nicaraguan National Assembly approved the USG request to allow US Navy P-3 aircraft to overfly Nicaragua in support of certain NASA project missions. This formal USG request for permission for these flights, which would support NASA's Hypersonic Thermodynamic Infared Measurements (HYTHIRM) project, came after the Government of Nicaragua's (GON) denied an earlier request (REF C). The National Assembly approval was granted for missions only during the first six months of 2010. We anticipate that a second request covering the final six months of 2010 will be approved by the Assembly during a later session. We will monitor and report via separate telegram (SEPTEL).

2. (U) This vote complies with Nicaragua's constitutional requirement that all foreign military craft and personnel entering Nicaragua have prior approval from the National Assembly before entering Nicaraguan territory or airspace; however, it does not constitute diplomatic flight clearance for any specific mission. NASA/US Navy still must provide the Embassy with dates and flight information for each specific mission so that a diplomatic aircraft clearance can be requested from the GON, in accordance with established procedures and timelines.

Requesting Diplomatic Aircraft Clearance

3. (U) To request Diplomatic Aircraft Clearance for a specific NASA HYTHIRM mission, the operators of the P-3 must submit the following information to Embassy Managua's Defense AttachC) Office either via email (to the addresses indicated below) or, if available, through the online Aircraft and Personnel Automated Clearance System (APACS):

B7 Type of aircraft

B7 Call Sign

B7 Tail number (and any alternates that may be used in case
of substitutions)

B7 Country in which aircraft originates (takes off from) and
returns to (for entry / exit flights)

B7 Type of cargo

B7 Airspace entry data: date, time, and grid of entry

B7 Airspace exit data: date, time, and grid of exit

B7 Purpose of trip

B7 Number of crew

NOTE: DAO Office would also need flight data for recurring sorties as a separate entry (times of daily flights, if applicable, with grid coordinate data. END NOTE.

If sending information via email, it should be directed to USDAO Managua Ops NCO SFC Dori Pelley at (NIPR: pelleydl@state.gov; SIPR: dipeldx@dia.smil.mil) with a 'cc' copy to the DAO Managua Inbox

(NIPR: DAOManagua@state.gov; SIPR: DAOManagua@dia.smil.mil)

Embassy Points of Contact

4. (U) Please direct any questions regarding this issue or process to the following Embassy Points of Contact.

For Political-Military Issues: Pol-Mil Officer, Jesse Curtis
(OpenNet/NIPR: CurtisJS@state.gov; SIPR: CurtisJS@state.sgov.gov;
Tel: +505-2252-7128).

For Diplomatic Aircraft Clearance: DAO OpsNCO SFC Dori Pelley
(NIPR: pelleydl@state.gov; SIPR: dipeldx@dia.smil.mil; TEL:
+505-2252-7735)

For Science and Technology Issues, including Space Affairs and
non-Military aircraft clearances: EST Officer Christopher Nyce
(OpenNet: NyceC@state.gov; SIPR: NyceC@state.sgov.gov; TEL:
+505-2252-7619)

CALLAHAN

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