The Colombia’s meteorological service IDEAM is demanding $29.5 million from the air transportation authority, Caracol Radio reported Tuesday.
The Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM) has reportedly filed a lawsuit against Civil Aeronautics, which will likely require the intervention of President Juan Manuel Santos, according to El Espectador.
IDEAM’s demand of $29.5 million (COP56 billion) is for the cost of services provided to the air transportation authority.
“I must object to the lawsuit filed by the IDEAM,” said the director of Civil Aeronautics, Santiago Castro, in a letter to his counterpart, Ricardo Lozano.
He continued that he does not understand the compensation request, which is thereby “breaking the balance of the current agreement, regardless of the fact that both Civil Aeronautics and IDEAM are part of the nation’s institutions.”
Instead he called upon the IDEAM director to “immediately activate the channels of dialogue and consultation.”
Officials close to the aviation industry believe that if the lawsuit is successful it would jeopardize plans to upgrade the radar system in the country, unless the government were to provide the funds to pay IDEAM.