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.

FMI: www.fuerzaaerea.mil.ar, www.cra.gov.ar, www.transporte.gov.ar (All Spanish)