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TEN ROMEO NEWSLETTER Report 61
December 18, 1995 Dear Friends: Two months of effort has resulted in the following:
The final roadblock is a Commerce Department license which was denied on 12/14. An appeal is in process. The meeting agenda, approved by ICAC, along with verification of Cuban sponsorship brought Treasury approval. I must now convince Commerce that TEN ROMEO will not be sold in Havana. This technicality should be cleared for an early January flight to MUHA. The center spread of this report is information sent to Commerce; back page is "Update No. Eight" sent to project principals. WARMEST HOLIDAY GREETINGS TO ALL! ----------- Harmon Associates MISSION STATEMENT THE CUBAN CONNECTION - MILLARD HARMON In 1958 Professor Harmon did a doctorate field study on education in the USSR. After early retirement in 1983, it seemed appropriate to return to the Soviet Union to work for increased understanding between Russians and Americans. His single-engine aircraft, TEN ROMEO, because of four flights into USSR air space, became an effective instrument of detente. TEN ROMEO's 1985 speed record flight from Helsinki to Moscow was a first. As the first light aircraft to fly Soviet Skies for decades, extensive press visibility gave Harmon the opportunity to work with Aeroflot for three years to make their civil air operation more accessible to Western "Sport Pilots", a Russian title for those who fly for fun rather than pay. Some of Harmon's recommendations were accepted, some were not. However, three years of working with Aeroflot made Harmon aware of aviation problems within the former USSR not generally known in Western circles. Cuba, as a client Soviet state, may have similar problems. Harmon knew he could not work with officials of the INSTITUTE OF CIVIL AVIATION OF CUBA without personal approval and an invitation from Castro. Thus, on March 20, 1995, Harmon made a request to Prime Minister Castro to meet with his civil aviation officials to review plans for a smooth transition of policy when the sanctions are lifted. In 1987 Vladimir Lukin of the Moscow INSTITUTE OF USA & CANADA "Think Tank" helped revoke TEN ROMEO's Moscow landing fee of $4,000.00. Harmon's request to Castro was sent through Lukin, now Russian Ambassador to the USA. On October 2, 1995, a message from Havana indicated a Cuban visit was approved and would be fully funded by Cuba. With changes occurring in Cuba, and softening of US policy as represented by new protocols signed by President Clinton in early October, it seems appropriate to plan NOW for the time when sanctions will be lifted. Harmon will review quality control of Cuban 100-octane aviation fuel. (TEN ROMEO received "100-octane aviation fuel" on the Sheremetyevo ramp which Continental laboratories in Mobile, Alabama, researched as 72-octane, an automobile fuel.) Cuban landing fees and other costs will be reviewed. A second concern relates to suggesting that Cuban officials review their basic "European" flight system with an eye toward switching to the open skies as practiced in the US, Canada, and Australia. A basic "American" flight system would enhance safety, and facilitate business access between the US and Cuba, once sanctions are lifted. Harmon is in the final stages of satisfying US requirements for a record flight in TEN ROMEO from Washington to Havana to dialogue with officials of the INSTITUTE OF CIVIL AVIATION OF CUBA. ---------- Harmon Associates BACKGROUND AND INTENT In requesting a US DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE license for a TEMPORARY SOJOURN for a single-engine Beechcraft-36 aircraft, TEN ROMEO, to attempt a record flight between Washington (KDCA) and Havana (MUHA), the following information is provided. --------- TEN ROMEO is a single-engine, high-performance light aircraft manufactured by BEECH AIRCRAFT CORPORATION and designated as a BE-36. Its serial number is E-103, was built in 1969 in Wichita, Kansas, and is registered with the FAA as N7710R. (The last three registration digits provide the acronym, TEN ROMEO.) TEN ROMEO was purchased new by Professor Millard Harmon as a travel link to keep his five children acquainted with their four grandparents living 1,000 miles away. In addition, TEN ROMEO was an active search platform for hundreds of hours with the CIVIL AIR PATROL for over twenty years. One RED CAP search effort was brought to a halt when Harmon and his crew located the downed aircraft. In 1978 TEN ROMEO was used politically to provide mobility for a "dark horse" candidate in the race for Republican Leader of the New York State Assembly. Harmon became a senior staff member following the election of his friend. In 1983 Harmon took early retirement. At that time the East/West conflict was the most serious risk to our planet. Following prayerful consideration, he committed his resources, time, and energy to increasing understanding between Americans and Soviets in the hope of reducing tensions. TEN ROMEO, as an object of visibility and credibility, became an effective instrument of detente. At the moment, TEN ROMEO may be the most renowned light aircraft in the world with 154 flight speed records. It also may be the best equipped light aircraft, since the unusual flying Harmon does requires instrumentation to be top-notch. The panel is BENDIX/KING, has extensive redundancy, and two GPS units. Deicing boots and a "hot prop" provide added safety. TEN ROMEO will eventually reside in a museum. Several have requested the privilege of housing this unique aircraft. One major flight after Havana is planned, following which a final resting place will be determined. This aircraft is not for sale and will not be sold while in Cuba. The COMMERCE DEPARTMENT license being requested is not unique since four aircraft "Temporary Sojourn" licenses have been approved in recent times. ----------- Harmon Associates MEMORANDUM
To: TREASURY - Chief Steven I. Pinter - (License for TEN
ROMEO) From: Mil Harmon Subject: Update No. Eight of TEN ROMEO's Record Flight, KDCA/MUHA Dear Colleagues: Kudos to Officer Clara David of TREASURY! Through her efforts the required TREASURY license dated October 29th was received from Chief of Licensing Steven I. Pinter, Office of Foreign Assets Control. Clara's skillful and dedicated efforts in successful guidance through the requirements necessary to obtain the "treasured" TREASURY license are greatly appreciated. Officer Karen Conyers of COMMERCE called today to indicate that the STATE DEPARTMENT has denied approval of the COMMERCE license required to fly TEN ROMEO to Havana. Working with Karen these last several weeks has been enjoyable. She, like Clara, has worked diligently for this project, and it's encouraging to find such dedicated and helpful federal employees. An appeal will be immediately instituted. In my contact with Karen I have heard several times, "the project does not involve humanitarian aid", which I understand our sailing colleagues have carried to their regattas. (Were my contacts pointing to a resolution to which I should have responded sooner?) I am asking Director Armando for a list of humanitarian needs which are most pressing as an acceptable cargo for TEN ROMEO's Havana flight. Armando and I believe that the holiday season is not the time to press for complicated government approval of any sort. With that in mind, the flight will be rescheduled in early January, 1996. This should provide time to appeal the denial of the needed license, and identify local Havana needs. Sooooooo - warmest season's greetings to everyone. May this year be the best holiday you have experienced as we close one year and embark upon the excitement of a new one! ----------- cc: Friends of TEN ROMEO |