|
[Home Page] [Newsletters] [About Mil Harmon] [Future Plans] [Sponsors] [Advisors] [News Coverage] [Acronyms]
|
|
Harmon Associates MEMORANDUM June 7, 1997 To: TEN ROMEO NEWSLETTER
Recipients Dear Friends: You who are on TEN ROMEO's mailing list are special to me - we have been through exciting and difficult times together. Enclosed is unhappy news you may have missed in press reports. For two years efforts have been focused on attempting to meet all requirements for a TEN ROMEO humanitarian flight to Havana. Page two is a copy of my "frustration memo" written when at the last minute I learned that my fourth request to Commerce was denied. My flight plan was modified to depart Washington, overfly Havana for a DCA-HAV speed record, and land at Grand Cayman. Over Cuba TEN ROMEO developed an oil leak and a rough engine. An emergency was declared, I squawked 7700, and landed in Havana. From that point on my life changed drastically. Repairs were attempted in Havana, Grand Cayman and Freeport for my return to Albany. I learned In Grand Cayman that Treasury was considering a $55,000.00 fine. I believed this was in error resulting from a government too complicated and compartmentalized to render an accurate reflection of the Treasury licenses I had received with only the Commerce TEMPORARY SOJOURN LICENSE denied. The illegal landing in Havana was caused by an unforeseen airborne emergency. All aircraft departing Cuba are required to clear Customs in Miami, but with the threat of a $55,000.00 fine, I requested a change of venue for clearance in Albany rather than Miami. Two drug interdiction aircraft followed me from West Palm Beach to home base in Albany where I received unusual treatment. (See No. 13 on page four.) At a press conference at Albany Airport a Customs official indicated Treasury did not believe TEN ROMEO had an airborne emergency. MY PLANE WAS THEN CONFISCATED BY CUSTOMS. Now, for the first time in 27 years, I am without TEN ROMEO. That beautiful plane, considered by some to be the most renowned single-engine aircraft in the world, the plane that opened Soviet skies to western light aircraft, has 154 speed records, been to the North Pole, flown the Bermuda Triangle, and carries a certified record of humanitarian endeavors, is no longer mine. Report No. 64, a more complete journal, will reach you later. I wanted you to know of the deep, lonely valley I am now walking. ------------ Harmon Associates MEMORANDUM March 26, 1997 To: Friends of TEN ROMEO Dear Colleagues: My efforts may have come under criticism for "politicizing" my humanitarian efforts regarding Cuba, particularly with State. My research on Dr. Castro and Cuba indicates that NOTHING unusual happens in that country without Dr. Castro's approval. Thus, my original request to fly into Havana went directly to the Prime Minister, and divergent techniques were used to insure delivery. Furthermore, TEN ROMEO cannot create a "Medicine Bridge" between Key West and Havana without Dr. Castro's support and approval. I had great hope of tying Washington and Havana together with a TEN ROMEO record flight (as I did Washington and Moscow in 1985) while delivering medicines for children this Sunday. What a disappointment yesterday to receive a call from Commerce indicating my third application for a TEMPORARY SOJOURN LICENSE to fly to Havana filed on February 21st was not on record since FAX applications are no longer accepted. Each request is faced with new, unknown obstacles that have filled eighteen months with concentrated frustration, despair, and now, failure. I do not intend to violate the most contentious US legislation in US history, the Helms-Burton law. There has never been a law so tightly enforced with no reason, no common sense or compassion present for even delivery of medicines to hospitalized children serving as basis for an exemption. Helms-Burton has dehumanized our great country of its normal generosity and compassion. Were I to violate this law, land in Havana, and deliver $50,000 of medicines, I must assume my aircraft would be confiscated and I could be in jail for ten years. I will not violate that law. My plan is to fly from Washington to Grand Cayman, and while over Havana have my IACC friends "mark" passing over their control tower. This will give me the DCA-MUHA record I want, but is small consolation, with a plane full of undeliverable medicines. My intent was to land at Grand Cayman and place the medicines on the next Cubana Air flight to Havana. Yesterday's call from Commerce indicated this violates the law, even if I pay for delivery. "Only $200 of medicines to Cuba per/mo. per American." I will give the medicines to Director Richard Smith of CAA (Grand Cayman equivalent to our FAA) for disposal as he sees fit. cc: IACC, FAA, NAA, CAA, 1st USAF (FL), Others as Appropriate --------------- Harmon Associates MEMORANDUM April 6, 1997 To: Commissioner George Weise From: Dr. Millard Harmon Dear Commissioner Weise: I respectfully request that my aircraft, TEN ROMEO, and I be allowed to clear customs at Albany, NY, on Monday, April 7th, at approximately 14:30 local time due to unusual circumstances. On Saturday, April 5th, a feature article in the Times Union newspaper indicated a $55,000 fine is under consideration by Treasury because of my landing in Havana on March 30th. This is a great disappointment given the fact that I have a Treasury license FAC Nos. 147715; 148219 issued November 29, 1995, which I understood satisfied all Treasury concern. Under the circumstances I must assume my aircraft will be confiscated by Treasury the moment it touches down in US territory. Dealing with such unusual and stringent circumstances can best be dealt with at home base. Rest assured all customs matters will be resolved to your satisfaction at home base in Albany. Seven pages of my engine log book detailing efforts in Havana, Grand Cayman and Freeport to correct the airborne emergency oil leak have been xeroxed and mailed to Albany for review by Commerce. Respectfully, Millard Harmon
cc Director Tony Knappik ----------------- BACKGROUND CHRONOLOGY Confiscation of N7710R, TEN ROMEO - April 7, 1997 1. In 1985 Harmon flew out of Moscow in TEN ROMEO with a Soviet "100 octane" aviation fuel sample which analysis revealed to be 72 octane. Western pilots wanting to fly into Moscow were told of the flawed USSR fuel. This protected equipment and saved lives which was appreciated by the US and European governments. 2. In March 1995 a request was made to visit Cuban (IACC) aviation operations to check quality of their "100 octane" fuel. 3. IACC sponsored TEN ROMEO's flight to Havana, so Treasury licenses, FAC Nos. 147715; and 148219, were issued on 11/29/95. 4. Four applications were made to Commerce for a TEMPORARY SOJOURN LICENSE to fly to Havana. In denying application #1, the Under Secretary suggested a subsequent one would be considered for delivery of medicines, as requested by TEN ROMEO supporters. 5. Commerce indicated Applications #2 and #3 had been lost, so #4 was filed on February 21, 1997. 6. On March 3rd a Commerce contact suggested a positive decision by week's end. A DCA-HAV flight plan was filed for Easter, the plane re-tanked for extra fuel, and medicines collected. 7. Just before departure, Commerce denied the license. The DCA- HAV flight plan was cancelled, then refiled DCA to Grand Cayman (GCM) with a Havana overflight for a DCA-HAV speed record. Medicines were consigned to Director Richard Smith of CAA in GCM. 8. Albany departure on March 30th was at 5:55 am with the intent of flying DCA to GCM with no press coverage, returning to Albany as quickly as possible, and resigning from humanitarian efforts. 9. Airborne emergencies over Cuba required TEN ROMEO to land. 10. TEN ROMEO was worked on by mechanics in Havana, Grand Cayman, and Freeport to attempt to correct an emergency oil leak. 11. After attempts to repair the aircraft in Havava, TEN ROMEO flew to GCM, where subsequently newspaper reports from Albany indicated Treasury was considering a $55,000 fine for having landed in Cuba. This was unexpected since all required Treasury OFAC licenses had been issued. 12. The enormity of the fine under consideration indicated that decisions were made without complete information, which could take time to resolve once on the ground in the US. For this reason, a change of venue was requested of Customs asking for clearance at Albany home base rather than Miami where resolution of the problem would require a $90.00 motel room per night. The FAX requesting the change was sent on April 6th. 13. TEN ROMEO touched down at Albany at 14:27:21 on April 7th under special security precautions. These included extra police, vans blocking taxiways, and representatives from Customs, FAA, and Treasury awaiting TEN ROMEO at Albany Customs. 14. TEN ROMEO was confiscated by Customs shortly thereafter. |