VZCZCXYZ0029
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSG #0287 0392103
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 082103Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8445

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000287 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR PM/DTCC BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KOMC ETTC CI
SUBJECT: CHILE: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL THREE, POST CLEARS ON 
APPLICATION 05-984045 
 
REF: STATE 09494 
 
¶1.  Reftel requested a Blue Lantern Level Three pre-license 
end-use check on application 05-984045 for the export of two 
Bell UH1H helicopter engines to Chilean company Helicopteros 
del Pacifico. 
 
¶2.  Helicopteros del Pacifico (HdP) is a privately-owned 
company, incorporated August 10, 1990.  HdP is located in 
Temuco, which is 417 miles from Santiago and a nine-hour 
drive from the Embassy.  It is 98 percent owned by Carlos E 
Berrie, Chilean citizen, who acts as general manager. 
Berrie's wife owns the remaining two percent.  HdP has 
fire-fighting contracts with two major forestry concerns, 
Forestal Mininco and Forestal Arauco, as well as with CONAF, 
the GOC's national forestry agency.  HdP currently owns and 
operates six Bell UH1H helicopters; operates an additional 
three Bell UH1H helicoptors owned by Inversiones Aereas 
Patagonia Limitada; and, as required, operates an additional 
eight Bell UH1H helicoptors owned by Consorcio Patagonia del 
Pacifico.  Berrie informed Poloff that four of the UH1H 
helicopters owned by HdP were purchased from the Federal 
Republic of Germany, but had never been "militarized."  All 
of the remaining helicopters operated by HdP are 
demilitarized models purchased locally from other Chilean 
entities.  Berrie said that in each case, the proper end-use 
transfer permissions had been sought and received from the 
U.S., with the possible exception of Bell UH1H 65-09858, tail 
number CC-CNM, purchased by HdP from Servicio Aereo Agricola 
Limitada in 2005.  As of February 7, 2006, Berrie was 
attempting to verify whether Servicio Aereo Agricola Limitada 
had obtained transfer permission for this transfer. 
 
¶3.  All of the UH1H helicopters operated by HdP are 
registered and licensed as civilian aircraft.  They are 
certified in a restricted category, authorized for external 
load operations, agricultural operations, forestry and 
wildlife conservation operations and fire patrolling.  HdP 
helicopters are authorized only to carry personnel 
legitimately engaged in the above activities, and cannot be 
operated for commercial transportation or tourism.  In 
firefighting operations they deploy fire crews and conduct 
water and flame retardent drops. 
 
¶4.  Berrie noted that the two engines identified in 
application 05-984045 are currently under impound in Miami 
Customs, apparently due to a mistake by the freight 
forwarding company.  Berrie was conversant with the 
restrictions in regard to United States Munitions List (USML) 
items, noting that he was required to obtain transfer 
approval even when shipping engines back to the US for 
maintanence or overhaul. 
 
¶5.  Reftel also requested Post perform a site visit to assess 
the operations of Helicopteros del Pacifico and its on-site 
security.  Poloff was not able to conduct a site visit, given 
HdP's distance from Santiago and insufficient Post travel 
funds.  However, Post finds that HdP is likely a reliable 
recipient of USML items.  HdP appears to be a legitimate 
firefighting operation based out of Temuco, in mid-southern 
Chile.  HdP is in the FCS database, and owner Berrie met with 
FCS at the Embassy in 1999.  Berrie was very responsive to 
Post's requests for information, and speaks fluent English. 
KELLY