By Aimee Turner in Brussels
European legislators favour tightening current rules on marginally compliant aircraft – rather than banning night flights across the Eurpean Union – to control noise around airports, said Matthias Ruete, European Commission director general for energy and transport at last week’s European-US airport environmental issues conference.
“There are strong calls from a number of groups campaigning against aircraft noise to introduce an EU-wide ban on all night time flights. Such a measure cannot be assumed to be the most efficient solution for the reduction of aviation noise,” he said.
“This would potentially lead to conflicts with Europe’s partners in international aviation, imposes unnecessary economic and social costs at those airports where there is no noise problem and unfairly exports the problem to non-EU countries,” he added.
A ban would also risk contravening the principle established in 2003 by the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in a case brought against the UK government by residents living around London Heathrow airport, Ruete said. The court ruled that states must strike and maintain a reasonable balance between the interests of those affected by airport operations and the interests of those who operate and use air services.
Ruete said that a comprehensive study by the EC will be launched this year to assess changes in the impact of aircraft noise within the EU since aircraft noise rules and principles came into force in 2003. Within the framework of a “balanced approach” to noise management, local authorities can tailor noise solutions to the specific characteristics of the airport concerned.
“In particular it should look at whether the definition of marginally compliant aircraft should be strengthened,” said Ruete. “It will draw up an inventory of measures to mitigate noise, including also the gradual withdrawal of marginally compliant aircraft and night flights restrictions.”
The EC will then report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation and effectiveness of the 2003 aircraft noise directive at airports across the EU. “On this basis, possible improvements to EU legislation will be examined. In case of modification of existing noise legislation or if new legislation proves to be necessary, the Commission will consult with different stakeholders on alternative solutions and will carry out the necessary impact analyses,” said Ruete.
Source: Flight International
