US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA10950

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 010950 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PLEASE PASS TO ALC/MIAMI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2015 
TAGS: EAIR, CO 
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA,S AIR SAFETY CONCERNS 
 
 
Classified By: DCM Milton Drucker for Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Summary.  Troubling developments in Colombia,s civil 
aviation sector have brought to post,s attention that 
Colombia,s last FAA safety assessment took place in 1999. 
Recent plane crashes and questions concerning the integrity 
of the CAA,s safety oversight function suggest, at the 
least, that the GOC should evaluate current procedures and 
personnel to ensure compliance with ICAO standards.  End 
Summary. 
 
----------------------------- 
FAA Officials Express Concern 
----------------------------- 
 
2.  (C) On September 27, visiting FAA officials (working as 
technical consultants to the GOC) met with DCM and Econoff to 
discuss their concerns regarding the CAA,s Air Safety 
Division.  Based on their observations, FAA officials believe 
a recent pattern of insufficient oversight and improper 
inspections may warrant a technical safety review by the FAA 
of Colombian compliance with ICAO standards.  The following 
issues were noted: 
 
3.  (C) Untrained/Incompetent Workers:  Although CAA,s Air 
Safety workers do have previous industry experience, FAA 
inspectors believe they are inadequately trained.  The FAA 
officials noted certain supervisors ignored cases where 
inspectors provided negative operator inspection reports that 
should have resulted in the grounding of unsafe aircraft. 
The FAA inspectors speculate that corruption may have 
influenced the inspection process. 
 
4.  (C) AeroSucre,s Airworthiness:  CAA had grounded 
AeroSucre due to numerous air safety violations, but the 
order was recently rescinded.  The FAA officials believe CAA 
Director General Fernando Sanclemente lifted the restrictions 
on AeroSucre due to political pressures from the company,s 
president, Jorge Solano, and not as a result of corrective 
action taken by the Colombia cargo carrier. 
 
5.  (U) Satena,s Airworthiness:  According to FAA 
inspectors, Satena, an airline operated by the Colombia Air 
Force, does not have permission from the CAA,s Air Safety 
Division to fly commercial flights.  However, FAA officials 
state that Satena continues to serve the public, despite the 
fact that under CAA air safety regulations its planes should 
undergo more stringent oversight.  Embassy notes that Satena 
flies regularly scheduled commercial flights 
(Bogota-Medellin) and has a thriving charter business.  The 
Air Force does not believe it is covered by civil regulations. 
 
---------------- 
Meeting with CAA 
---------------- 
 
6.  (U) On October 26, DCM met with CAA Director General 
Fernando Sanclemente regarding issues voiced by visiting FAA 
officials over apparent lapses in compliance with ICAO safety 
standards and questions regarding the integrity of the CAA,s 
inspection process.  Sanclemente expressed concern over the 
DCM,s presentation, and offered assurances that Colombia was 
in full compliance with all ICAO safety standards.  He 
further added that although AeroSucre had financial problems, 
it had provided an action plan displaying the manner in which 
it would eliminate its debt without risking the air safety of 
its flights.  In addition, Sanclemente explained that since 
Satena is owned and operated by the Colombian Air Force, it 
is not required to meet CAA,s air safety standards. 
Instead, he assured Post that Satena follows an equally 
rigorous set of Colombian Air Force air safety regulations. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
7.  (C) Recent developments (including the crash of a West 
Caribbean flight, AeroSucre,s changing airworthiness status, 
and the recent resignation of CAA Air Safety Secretary 
Captain Julio Consuegra) have focused attention on 
Colombia,s air safety situation.  The fact that Colombia,s 
last safety inspection was in 1999 suggests, at the least, 
that the GOC should do a thorough evaluation of its current 
procedures and its personnel to ensure its compliance with 
ICAO standards.  In addition, post is concerned that rumored 
outside pressure on CAA could affect its objectivity. 
Therefore, FAA support for an evaluation would be desirable. 
DRUCKER