VZCZCXYZ0003
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDR #0616/01 1041357
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 141357Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3761
INFO RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA PRIORITY 0089
RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO PRIORITY 0027
RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY 2363
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI PRIORITY 0119
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY 2742
RUEHLGB/AMEMBASSY KIGALI PRIORITY 0795
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0233
RUEHLU/AMEMBASSY LUANDA PRIORITY 0107
RUEHTO/AMEMBASSY MAPUTO PRIORITY 7420
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 0037
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0142
RUEHWD/AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK PRIORITY 0281
RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PRIORITY 0014

UNCLAS DAR ES SALAAM 000616 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT AF/EPS FOR C TRIMBLE, AF/E FOR B YODER, C PELT 
ALSO EB/TRA/AN FOR L JONES 
PASS TO TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION AND FAA 
NAIROBI TSA FOR K JONES 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID EAIR ECON TZ
SUBJECT: SAFE SKIES FOR AFRICA VITAL FOR TANZANIA 
 
REF: STATE 051152 
 
Summary:  Safe Skies for Africa valued in Tanzania 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
¶1. (U) Post considers Safe Skies for Africa (SSFA) a highly 
valuable program that advances two key goals of the U.S. 
Mission in Tanzania and in the region: (i) counterterrorism 
and (ii) economic growth and development.  As set forth in 
Tanzania's FY 2008 Mission Performance Plan (MPP), post's 
objective with SSFA assistance is to advance both a homeland 
defense strategy and a strategy to increase U.S.-Tanzanian 
trade linkages. 
 
¶2. (U) Post has set ambitious targets in its MPP to enhance 
civil aviation safety and security in Tanzania and the East 
African region by bringing all three of Tanzania's 
international airports (Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, and 
Zanzibar) into compliance with International Civil Aviation 
Organization Category I standards and FAA standards by FY 
¶2009.  In November 1999, Tanzania and the United States 
signed an Open Skies Agreement allowing unrestricted air 
service by the airlines of each country.  The Agreement 
includes code-sharing to, from and beyond the others' 
territory, eliminating restrictions on how often carriers can 
fly, the types of aircraft carriers can use and prices they 
can charge. 
 
Progress in Counterterrorism, Enhanced Safety for US Citizens 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
¶3. (U) Since the December 2002 signing of a Letter of 
Agreement between the USG and the Government of Tanzania 
(GOT) concerning equipment donated under SSFA, the Government 
of Tanzania (GOT) has proactively cooperated with the 
Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) to install 
security equipment and train staff at all three airports. 
Through the Agreement, explosive trace detectors, passenger 
and baggage x-ray equipment and metal detectors were 
purchased and installed by the USG.  In addition, the Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA) provided aviation safety and 
security training, and frequent reviews to instruct personnel 
of the Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) on how to 
competently use and effectively monitor these systems. 
 
¶4. (U) The TCAA's SSFA-funded security equipment and training 
program has progressed steadily through three stages from the 
initial familiarization in equipment usage (2003), to 
follow-on training to improve monitoring techniques (2005), 
and finally to the training of supervisors to assure 
consistency in equipment usage and monitoring (2006).  Also, 
over the past four years, key Tanzanian Civil Aviation 
Authority officials have attended specialized programs at the 
FAA training center in Oklahoma City.  With the support of 
regular visits and reviews from TSA regional office in 
Nairobi, over the same time period, security at Tanzania's 
three airports has steadily improved.  The result is the 
creation of a safer travel environment for the increasing 
number of American tourists and businessmen visiting Tanzania 
as well as meeting the counterterrorism goal of well-screened 
and secure airports. 
 
Economic Stimulus for Bilateral Trade 
------------------------------------- 
¶5. (U) Regarding post's FY 2008 MPP Economic Growth priority 
to increase the two-way trade between Tanzania and the United 
States, the lack of direct flights between the two countries 
has been a severe impediment, particularly in enabling 
Tanzania's exports under the African Growth Opportunity Act 
(AGOA).  Products in which Tanzania has the competitive 
advantage such as cut flowers, "baby" vegetables and fruits, 
have limited access to U.S. markets due to air transportation 
constraints.  Currently the majority of cut roses from 
Tanzania are shipped on the direct flights of European 
carriers from Kilimanjaro Airport to Amsterdam, which serves 
as a clearing house for cut flowers from East Africa. 
¶6. (U) Some of these East African cut flowers may eventually 
be shipped to and sold in the United States from the 
Netherlands, but are not credited to Tanzania or other East 
African countries as trade with the U.S under AGOA.  Direct 
Tanzanian-U.S. flights, on a U.S. carrier or without a 
stopover in Europe, would significantly increase the 
bilateral trade between our two countries. 
 
¶7. (U) Well aware that compliance with international and FAA 
civil aviation standards is a prerequisite to opening the 
door to direct flights, the SSFA program is essential at this 
stage of Tanzania's economic development.  The Embassy, the 
regional TSA office, and the TCAA have, and will continue to, 
closely cooperate to set even higher standards for training, 
reviews, surveys and airport security in order to accelerate 
Tanzania's progress toward meeting the ICAO and FAA 
requirements. 
 
Regional Advantages 
------------------- 
¶8. (U) In terms of regionally-based assistance, post's view 
is that an initiative encouraging air cargo development would 
be essential to enhance the two way trade between the entire 
East African region and the U.S.  Such an initiative would 
provide Tanzania with the opportunity to learn from regional 
partners as well as to cooperate with neighboring countries 
to develop air cargo capacity.  In addition, post believes 
that establishing an aviation security oversight organization 
for the East African Community could provide a key mechanism 
to facilitate and promote regional compliance with aviation 
security as well as sustainability of increased civil 
aviation practices and procedures. 
DELLY