Bill to Ban
Concorde Flights Passes House
Contingent on EU
Adoption of Discriminatory Noise Rule
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WASHINGTON-In response to a pending
European Union action that would adversely affect the operation older American-made
planes in European airspace, the House today passed a bill that would ban
the supersonic Concorde from U.S. airports.
"Fair is fair," said Rep. James L. Oberstar
of Minnesota, Ranking Democratic Member of the House Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure and sponsor of the legislation. "Banning the Concorde
is a reasonable response to this regulation."
At the heart of the issue is a new noise
rule pending in the European Union that would restrict the operation of
aircraft modified with new engines or quieting devices known as hushkits.
The regulation has drawn criticism from the U.S. aviation community because
it will most affect American-built aircraft, engines and hushkits.
"This is not an environmental regulation.
It is an unfair trade action disguised as an environmental regulation,"
said Rep. William Lipinski of Illinois, Ranking Democrat on the Aviation
Subcommittee. "It is specifically targeted at U.S. products, such at Boeing
aircraft, Pratt & Whitney engines, and hushkits, which are only manufactured
in the United States of America. There is no doubt that this regulation
is designed to discriminate against U.S. aircraft and aircraft manufacturers."
Oberstar's bill would rescind the waiver
of federal noise regulations under which British Airways and Air France
operate Concorde flights to and from John F. Kennedy International Airport
in New York if the Europeans enact the proposed rule. Oberstar told the
House this is an appropriate response.
"The Concorde is European aviation's
flagship aircraft. The Concorde is Europe's signature technological mark
on world aviation. It is a mark of pride for Europe. We have been allowing
their mark of pride to fly in our airspace even though it does not meet
our noise standards," Oberstar said. "We in the U.S. have been very tolerant
of, and have cooperated with, airlines flying the Concorde. I am willing
to continue to cooperate and to support continuation of this waiver, but
only if the EU drops this outrageous proposal."
In addition, Oberstar said banning Concorde
flights to and from the United States will have positive environmental
benefits. According to a preliminary analysis from the FAA, eliminating
the Concorde and its noise from American airspace will reduce the noise
footprint around Kennedy Airport by at least 20 percent.
The bill instructs the Secretary of
Transportation to lift the Concorde's noise waiver and prohibit the operation
of civil supersonic aircraft at U.S. airports unless those aircraft can
meet Stage 3 noise standards. The ban is contingent on the European Union's
enactment of the proposed restrictions on re-engined and hushkitted aircraft.
The European Union's Council of Ministers
is scheduled to consider the new noise regulation later this month. The
European Parliament approved the rule in mid-February. If approved, the
regulation would go into effect April 1, 1999.
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