Cablegate: Blue Lantern Post Shipment End-Use On License

VZCZCXRO0219
OO RUEHNZ
DE RUEHWL #0268 2410404
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 280404Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5383
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 5238
RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND PRIORITY 1720
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY PRIORITY 0703
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY 0243
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ BICE INTEL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI PRIORITY 0112
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000268

BLUE LANTERN
SIPDIS

EAP/ANP, PM/DTTC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR TIM WATKINS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC NZ TW
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN POST SHIPMENT END-USE ON LICENSE
05-050095335

REF: STATE 76746

1. In response to reftel request, Econoff conducted a site
visit of Custom Aeronautical Support (CAS) located in
Christchurch on August 26 and met with company director Greg
Gaba and sales manager Emma Niu. CAS is physically located
in a relatively small but modern and secure building in an
industrial park outside Christchurch. CAS has been at this
location since 2005. The facility consists of a
well-organized warehouse holding spare airplane and
helicopter parts along with an office consisting of five
full-time employees. Records are keep both electronically and
in paper files and are well organized. CAS primarily deals in
supplying spare parts to small to medium size commercial
aircraft in New Zealand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakastain and
Taiwan. CAS developed a business relationship with Aerospace
Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) in Taiwan to supply
spare parts for Fokker aircraft used by Taiwan Air Force.

2. AIDC approached CAS and asked company if it could supply
13 ea. SHIM (part no. 16L401-21). CAS does not normally stock
this item so it contacted MAC Aerospace Corp. in Chantilly VA
as a source for the part. MAC consigned the shipment to Union
Transport Inc. (UTI) located at Carson Town Center, Los
Angeles, California on April 3, 2008. According to Mr. Gaba
and Ms. Niu of CAS, the parts were shipped direct from UTI in
Los Angeles to AIDC in Taiwan for use by the Taiwan Air
Force. There were no shipments to nor storage in Christchurch
facility. CAS has provided Econoff with copies of invoices,
payments and shipping records of the transaction which will
be emailed seperately to the PM/DTTC Blue Lantern
coordinator. CAS acknowledges that it does not have extensive
experience in purchasing items on restricted United States
Munitions List but expressed its intent to cooperate fully
with requirements and said they would happily seek guidance
for future purchases and shipments. Please let Embassy know
if there is any additional information which may be helpful
in satisfying this Blue Lantern request.
McCORMICK

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