The controversy in Peru's airline sector sparked by a pending April
24 FAA safety inspection reached new levels, as a leading local airline
representative urged his government to intervene before union
strikes could occur. Carlos Morales, representing the Association of
Peruvian Scheduled Airlines (ALAR), told Lima 's daily Expreso
that its members might declare a work stoppage April 29 unless they
were heard on safety issues because the stakes are so high.
Additional flights of Peru licensedcarriers operating to the
U.S. would be thwarted if the country's civil aviation system is
put into the lower Category 2 level by FAA.

Morales criticized Peru's civil aviation agency (DGAC), saying
its safety director, Eduardo Guislen, has only 250 training
hours in small aircraft, while ICAO's rules call for 5,000 hours
for safety inspectors. "It's no wonder we are concerned
because the responsible authorities in our country are not
complying with basic ICAO provisions," he said. "We are not against
anyone, but instead fear that Peru might be demoted from Category 1
to 2." He was upset that TACA Peru and TANS have abstained
from the airline association's plan to strike since the carriers "benefit
from a return to Cat 2."

The planned work stoppage would ground 240 daily flights. At
press time, the airlines, DGAC and labor unions had agreed on a truce
while they discussed common interests and solutions this week.
A strike threat, however, may have been temporarily averted.

Juan José Iglesias G.
Phone: +58-14-380.58.06
Phone: +58-16-702.45.51
E-mail: jjiglesias@...
E-mail: jj_iglesias@...

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