Decision Comes After Defense Minister Views Documentary
film
by ANN Correspondent Juan Jimenez
One day after a private
showing of the documentary film "Fuerza Aerea S.A." ("Air Force
Inc."), the Argentine government has announced it will demilitarize
control of general aviation regulation and oversight activities.
The film contains scenes which depict serious flaws in aviation
security.
The presidential decree which transfers the Regional Aerial
Command (Comando Regional Aereo) -- the organization which
currently regulates general aviation -- to the Transportation
Ministry is already "in process in the legal and technical section"
of the Defense Ministry, according to El Clarin. The transfer will
be a gradual process which will take "more than a year," according
to unnamed sources.
The CRA employs between 5,500 and 6,000 employees to perform
tasks similar to those of the US Federal Aviation Administration.
It is the only one of four commands of the Argentine Air Force
which does not perform a military mission. Historically, control of
general aviation has caused conflict between military pilots and
civilians.
"There is no reason for (the CRA) to be in the hands of the Air
Force," said Minister Ms. Nilda Garre. "It is absurd for an
organization with corporate characteristics as those of the Air
Force to control an agency with an economic impact as important as
civil aviation," she added.
The announcement also included other agencies which will be part
of the transfer from the military to civilian authorities,
including the National Metereological Service, the Civil Aviation
Accident Investigation Board and the Argentine Navy's Hydrographic
Naval Service.
Government sources stated the documentary had "no influence" on
the decision and "had been planned for quite some time." The
sources also stated the criteria to be applied to the transfer of
general aviation to civilian control "seeks to meet worldwide
standards such as the International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO)."
Nevertheless, the release of the documentary clearly accelerated
the process. The director of the film, Mr. Enrique Piñeyro,
recently advised the media he had been the subject of undue
pressure from the Air Force. Minister Garre ordered Air Force chief
Brigadier General Eduardo Schiaffino to submit a full report on the
matter. On Tuesday, after a meeting with the film's director, the
Minister was given a screening of the film, and shortly thereafter
ordered her staff to collect all available information on the
security issues the director presented in the documentary. The next
day, Gen. Schiaffino sent an internal memo to his staff indicating
the Minister's would be classified as "urgent."
In addition, Federal Prosecutor Mr. Carlos Rivolo has issued a
summons to Mr. Piñeyro to testify on Monday, September 4, as
part of an investigation into the failures of security documented
in his film.