WASHINGTON — A pending European Union aviation noise policy that unfairly favors European-built Airbus aircraft over U.S. rival Boeing planes has prompted Sen. Ernest Hollings, Ranking Democratic Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, and Rep. James L. Oberstar, Ranking Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, to respond with a call for tighter noise controls on flights into this country. Specifically, Hollings and Oberstar today introduced legislation to revoke the waiver that allows the supersonic Concorde to land at U.S. airports. 

At issue is an E.U. regulation, approved today by the European Parliament, that would ban commercial aircraft equipped with replacement engines or quieting devices called "hushkits" from operating in European airspace. The rule, in effect, would ban older Boeing planes, such as the B-727-200, which cannot meet European Chapter 3 noise standards (known as Stage 3 in the United States) without such modification, but would allow Airbus aircraft, which do not need to be modified to meet the standards. This is despite the fact that the Boeing planes with hushkits or new, quieter engines actually produce less noise than some Airbus planes that are not affected by the ban. 

The pending regulation would prohibit E.U. member countries from registering re-engined or hushkitted aircraft after April 1, 1999. Aircraft with such modifications which are registered in non-E.U. countries may operate in E.U. airspace through the end of 2002, unless the operator can show that the aircraft was operated in the E.U. between April 1, 1995 and April 1, 1999 and has not changed national registry. 

"The E.U.'s move to ban these types of aircraft has had a deafening effect on joint U.S.-European transportation relationships," Hollings said. "If they are not careful, they'll be flying gliders in and out of U.S. airports in order to meet U.S. noise standards." 

Oberstar said he believes the Europeans are using the regulation to gain an economic advantage. 

"The E.U.'s action is a blatant effort to favor European equipment over U.S. products," Oberstar said. "If finalized, the proposed regulation could potentially cost American businesses over $1 billion in spare parts and engine sales, reduce the resale value of over 1,600 U.S. aircraft, and cause severe financial losses for hushkit manufacturers, all of which are U.S. companies." 

The legislation would revoke the waiver of U.S. aviation noise regulations which now allows the Concorde to operate in U.S. airspace. British Airways and Air France currently offer daily Concorde service between Europe and New York. 

"Banning Concorde flights to and from the United States will have positive environmental benefits. According to a preliminary analysis from the FAA, such a prohibition will reduce the noise footprint around New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport by at least 20 percent," Oberstar said. "The Concorde aircraft has enjoyed a waiver from noise standards for more than 20 years even though it does not meet Stage 2 noise standards. Nevertheless, I am willing to allow continuation of this waiver, but only if the E.U. drops this outrageous proposal." 

Like the E.U., the United States is imposing new, stricter noise standards for commercial aircraft. By the end of this year, all large commercial aircraft operating in the U.S. must meet Stage 3 noise levels. That means they can be no more noisy than the newest planes now in operation. The U.S. regulations, however, allow older aircraft to be modified with new engines or hushkits in order to meet this standard. 

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will take up the House bill at its mark-up session Thursday at 1:30 p.m. in 2167 Rayburn HOB. 

SECTION 1. COMMERCIAL OPERATION OF SUPERSONIC TRANSPORT CATEGORY AIRCRAFT. 

If the European Union adopts Common Position (EC) No. 66/98 as a final regulation or adopts any similar final regulation, the Secretary of Transportation shall pro- hibit, after such date of adoption, the commercial oper- ation of a civil supersonic transport category aircraft to or from an airport in the United States unless the Sec- retary finds that the aircraft complies with stage 3 noise levels. 

Contacts: 

Maury Lane (Hollings) (202) 224-6121
Jim Berard (Oberstar) (202) 225-6260