US-EU-aviation

EU anti-noise directive could hurt US aircraft industry: official

WASHINGTON, Feb 9 (AFP) -

A European Union anti-noise directive, which

could be approved Wednesday, could jeopardize one billion dollars' worth of US

aircraft and aircraft engine orders, a senior US trade official warned here

Tuesday.

David Aaron, under secretary of commerce for international trade, said a

decision by the European Parliament to approve the directive "certainly won't

go unanswered."

"We'll have to look at our alternatives," he told reporters.

The directive would bar all aircraft outfitted with "hush kits," noise

reduction devices found on older planes, beginning April 1, 2002. Hush-kitted

aircraft registered outside the European Union but operating there before

April 1, 1999 would be allowed to continue.

A statement issued here Tuesday by the EU's executive commission said

analysis had shown that aircraft fitted with hush kits are not as

environmentally friendly as those with cleaner burning new generation engines.

"Hush kits induce weight and performance penalties which translate into 50

percent more fuel consumption on take-off and significantly worse noise

standards than current technology aircraft," the commission argued.

It noted that while the hush kit approach to noise control may benefit

manufacturers of the device, all of which are US-based companies, it is

nowhere near as effective in curbing noise and pollution as are newer and less

polluting aircraft.

By acquiring hush kits, the statement said, carriers can extend the life of

airplanes that are more than 25 years old.

Aaron said the United States was seeking a delay on the vote by the

European Parliament to allow the parties time to discuss the measure, which

would effectively prevent US manufacturers from selling planes with hush kits

to European carriers.

Northwest Airlines, backed by several other US carriers, has already

petitioned the US Department of Transportation to take action against the

regulation.

Apart from the major carriers, the Commerce Department said Federal

Express, United Parcel Service and charter operators are also likely to be hit

if the directive is approved.

The EU commission said European residents had become increasingly outspoken

in criticizing noise levels around airports located near densely populated

urban centers.

"Without an EU regulation," it added, "there is a ... danger that local

authorities will be forced to take measures that may cause fragmentation and

disruption of the EU aviation market."

nh/sb