US embassy cable - 04AMMAN3432

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 003432 
 
SIPDIS 
 
TREASURY FOR ZARATE AND LINARDI 
CPA FOR TRENT, CASTLE AND VARDAMAN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2014 
TAGS: EAIR, ETTC, IZ, JO, SZ 
SUBJECT: IRAQI FALCON 50: JORDAN READY TO HAND IT OVER ONCE 
REGISTRATION IS RESOLVED AND OUTSTANDING FEES ARE    PAID 
 
REF: A. BERN 00434 
 
     B. AMMAN 01214 
     C. STATE 95216 
 
Classified By: CDA DHale:Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C)  SUMMARY:  Jordan's Director General of Civil 
Aviation said that the Iraqi Falcon 50 which has been parked 
at Marka Airport for the past year could be turned over to 
Iraq once several issues are resolved.  These include the 
fees charged for the aircraft, the need for the aircraft to 
be re-registered, and the need for an airworthiness 
certificate before the plane can be moved.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (C)  On May 4, visiting CPA official John Vardaman met 
with Hanna Najjar, Director General of the Jordan Civil 
Aviation Authority (JCAB) to discuss the Iraqi Falcon 50 
which has been parked at Marka Airport since March 19, 2003. 
Najjar agreed that the aircraft was an "Iraqi asset" although 
it was registered in Liechtenstein and said he had agreed to 
a CPA and U.S. Embassy request not to move the plane.  He 
said there was still some confusion about the registration 
since Iraqi authorities had told him the plane was registered 
in Sierra Leone.  Najjar said the plane must be de-registered 
before it can be released.  In addition, the GOJ is owed fees 
for parking the aircraft for over a year, fees that amount to 
"tens of thousands" of Jordanian dinars.  Najjar said that 
under ICAO regulations, because of the registration, the 
plane must be flown by a Swiss-licensed crew and if the Swiss 
ask for the plane, "we will give it to them." 
 
3.  (C)  Najjar would need a letter from Liechtenstein saying 
that ownership of the plane has been transferred and that is 
has been de-registered.  CPA must also clear any 
re-registration.  Once Jordan receives this letter from 
Liechtenstein confirming that the plane has been 
de-registered and identifying the new owner, Jordan will 
still require formal approval from the CPA designating the 
plane as an Iraqi asset as well as a note from the Embassy 
saying that the Embassy does not oppose the transfer.  In 
addition, a letter proposing release of the aircraft must be 
approved by the Jordanian Ministry of Transport.  However, 
this can be done while the re-registration is pending. 
 
4.  (C)  In addition to being re-registered, the aircraft 
will need an airworthiness certificate before it can be 
moved.  Najjar was uncertain as to whether the JCAB had 
anyone technically qualified to certify Falcons.  Iraq would 
have to send an inspector to register the plane if the plane 
is to be registered in Iraq.  However, if the plane were to 
be registered in Jordan, a Jordanian inspector would suffice. 
 
5.  (C)  Once this process was complete, all the outstanding 
fees generated by the aircraft must be paid Najjar was unsure 
whether there were additional handling charges due Royal 
Wings as well.  Najjar concluded that this entire process 
could be completed within four or five weeks if all the 
documentation was complete. 
 
6.  (U)  This message was cleared by Vardaman prior to 
departure. 
HALE