VZCZCXRO7306
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHMV #1033/01 2341701
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221701Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9165
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON DC
RUEANHA/FAA WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1475
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MONROVIA 001033 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PASS TO FAA FOR AHARRIS, TO DHS/TSA FOR BMCLAUGHLIN 
DAKAR PLEASE PASS TO FAA REP MKEANE 
ROME PLEASE PASS TO TSA REP JHALINSKI 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W AOKEDEJI, AF/EPS CTRIMBLE, EB/ESC 
SSAARNIO, INR/AA BGRAVES, EB/TRA/OTP JEMERY AND KGUSTAVSON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAIR ECON PGOV FAA LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: REQUEST FOR AIRPORT SURVEY AND ASSISTANCE 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  SUMMARY:  Since signing an Open Skies agreement 
with the United States in February 2007, the Government of 
Liberia (GOL) is eager to initiate direct air service between 
the United States and Liberia.  However, the security, 
safety, systems, and immigration shortfalls at the 
Robertsfield International Airport (RIA) outside Monrovia 
remain a formidable challenge for the initiation of non-stop 
flights to and from the United States.  Some improvements are 
underway to address these issues but it is unlikely these 
will be sufficient to meet even minimum standards required by 
¶U. S. aviation authorities and airlines.  Post requests 
assistance from the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), the 
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Transportation 
Safety Agency (TSA) to assess the status and needs of the RIA 
and Liberian Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA) with an eye 
towards preparing Liberia for potential direct air service to 
the United States.  END SUMMARY. 
 
------------------------------- 
Demand for flights is expanding 
------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U)  President Johnson Sirleaf has stated publicly and 
privately on numerous occasions that she is eager to initiate 
direct air service between the United States and Liberia. 
The GOL signed an Open Skies agreement in February 2007 and 
the President has personally encouraged U.S. carriers (namely 
Delta Airlines) to examine flights to Monrovia in addition to 
their other direct routes to West Africa (Delta currently 
flies to Accra and Dakar and will begin service to Lagos in 
December). Direct service to the United States would cut 
travel time and cost significantly, encouraging trade and 
investment. 
 
¶3.  (U)  There are currently a handful of regional flights 
to/from Monrovia each week on African carriers such as SLOK, 
Bellevue, and Kenya Airways, as well as three flights a week 
to Belgium on Brussels Airlines (via Dakar) and one flight a 
week to London on charter carrier Astreus Airlines.  RIA 
Managing Director Abraham Simmons told the Ambassador July 19 
that he has received inquiries from several airlines 
interested in servicing Monrovia, including Ethiopian 
Airlines, KLM, Virgin Atlantic, Delta, and Continental. 
Simmons expects the RIA's current passenger load of 69,000 
passengers per year to increase to 90,000 by 2010. 
 
----------------------------------------- 
Monrovia International Airport's Problems 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  At present, however, the security, safety and 
operational deficiencies of the RIA deter any general 
expansion of service, and direct flights to the United States 
in particular.  Outside advisors contracted by USAID tell the 
Embassy that RIA does not meet even minimum safety 
requirements: inadequate fire and rescue equipment, no 
functioning ambulance, and almost no safety procedures or 
training of airport personnel.  In addition, they note that 
RIA's insurance is capped at $10 million, an amount that 
would be wiped out with even one minor mishap.  RIA does have 
an informal agreement with the United Nations contingent at 
the airport for basic fire and rescue, and with the nearby 
Firestone Rubber Plantation hospital for ambulance and 
medical facilities, but the airport is unable at present to 
provide these services itself. 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  Flight and ground handling systems are equally 
frail.  In July, the lighting system, including approach 
lights and runway lights, were cut by deliberate sabotage, 
forcing the commercial airlines to operate in and out of RIA 
according to restricted, daylight and visibility dependent 
procedures.  These basic systems have since been repaired, 
but the airport still lacks functional guidance systems such 
as the Very High Frequency Omni Directional Radio Range 
(DVOR), Distance Measuring Equipment (DME), and Glide Path 
(GP). 
 
¶6.  (SBU)  Security at the airport is improving but remains 
lax.  The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) provides 
 
MONROVIA 00001033  002 OF 003 
 
 
perimeter security, but there are relatively easy access 
points throughout, and loose control over official airport 
personnel.  RIA does not possess an x-ray machine, a scanner, 
or a dangerous goods expert.  Personnel trained by Brussels 
Airlines have suitable training in security screening, but 
the RIA employees have not been adequately trained. 
Immigration officials continue to keep only paper records, 
photocopying and filing copies of all passports and passenger 
cards, and inputting only basic information on an Excel 
spreadsheet. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Simmons and other top managers at RIA are capable 
and well-intentioned, but lack experienced section heads and 
the resources to implement any of the easily identifiable 
safety and security priorities.  At present, the fifteen 
dollar "security fee" charged to each ticket flows directly 
to the LCAA rather than RIA.  According to the U.S.-funded 
GEMAP advisor to the RIA, that fee amounts to roughly $1.2 
million in revenue per year that could be spent on security 
upgrades, but thus far the RIA has not received any funding 
from the LCAA for this purpose.  RIA revenues from other fees 
and handling charges total roughly $3.5 million per year, but 
most is expended on overhead, mainly salaries.  Simmons plans 
to undertake a second round of staff rightsizing to remove 46 
unqualified and unnecessary people from the books.  At 
present the RIA has only $450,000 in the bank. 
 
------------------------------------- 
Plans for improvement are progressing 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶8.  (U)  Donors have recognized these deficiencies and the 
vital role that RIA plays and have funded many needed 
improvements.  USAID is funding $3 million in emergency works 
and safety equipment, including an airport ramp, generators, 
information technology upgrades, fire and rescue equipment, 
and air handling systems, in addition to a full-time 
management consultant funded under the GEMAP program. 
USAID/OTI has also funded short term consultants to produce 
an operations manual with procedures for each department and 
$350,000 worth of training for airport personnel. 
Specifications for the equipment will be complete and bid 
documentation prepared by September, and the operations 
manual is expected to be complete later in the fall. 
 
¶9.  (U)  The World Bank is procuring and installing some of 
the navigational, aeronautical and meteorological equipment 
that has been missing.  The $600,000 contract has been 
awarded and the contractor is scheduled to arrive in August 
to begin implementation.  All the equipment is expected to be 
operational in 6-9 months, according to Simmons.  Meanwhile, 
UNMIL has promised to provide a ring road and additional 
fencing around the perimeter of the airport.  The GOL 
included $250,000 in its 2007-08 budget for renovations to 
the airport terminal itself, and the contractor has completed 
the first phase of the work.  Simmons has suggested other 
needs such as an upgrade to the radio navigation system and 
runway resurfacing, while USAID advisors say there is a long 
list of requirements to be addressed for the RIA to meet FAA 
and TSA standards. 
 
¶10.  (U)  The International Office of Migration (IOM) is 
assisting the Ministry of Justice to build capacity in the 
Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN).  IOM is 
training officers regarding fraudulent documents and impostor 
recognition, and is seeking to implement a Passenger 
Immigration Registration System (PIRS) passport scanner and 
information management system to automate border and airport 
operations.  IOM says PIRS can work with DHS watchlists.  The 
Dutch government came to Liberia in June to seek a way to 
assist BIN with transformation as part of their long-standing 
program of cooperation with other West African countries in 
this area.  USAID/OTI is assisting the often troubled 
passport office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the 
GOL is in the process of revamping the Liberian passport to 
make it machine readable. 
 
------------------------------------------- 
Further guidance and assistance is required 
 
MONROVIA 00001033  003 OF 003 
 
 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶11.  (U)  There is much political will but very little 
capacity and financial support to do what it takes to make 
the RIA meet FAA safety and TSA/DHS security standards.  The 
Airport Director largely understands the needs, and top 
managers are qualified and capable, but capacity in the ranks 
is thin and funding is scarce.  Although donors are doing 
what they can to help airport authorities address emergency 
priorities, the LCAA and RIA require guidance to evaluate 
their work plans and identify gaps in strategy.  Post 
requests assistance from the FAA, TSA and DHS to survey the 
current condition of the airport and advise the GOL and 
donors on the steps necessary to prepare the RIA and related 
authorities for the possibility of direct flights to/from the 
United States. 
 
Booth