Sir - The editorial "Noise blight" (Flight International, 16-22 July) criticises the European Civil Aviation Conference and the European Commission for drafting "non-addition" rules for aircraft which are hushkitted to comply with Chapter 3 noise-certification standards, adding that the best environmental results will be achieved "-with the co-operation of the industry, not through alienating it".
This ignores the fact that the industry has often failed to take such opportunities when presented. The International Civil Aviation Organisation's Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection met in December 1995 to consider increasing the stringency of Chapter 3 noise-certification standards for all new aircraft entering the fleet. Although supported by the Airports Council International, opposition lobbying by sections of the industry ensured that no recommendation for the introduction of tougher standards was forthcoming. We need to accept that regulators must try to balance the forecast exponential growth in passengers with measures for environmental protection. So, when there is little immediate prospect of the industry agreeing on the next stage of noise standards for all new aircraft, it is understandable why regulators have chosen instead to target some of the poorest performers in the existing fleet, even if it is confined to preventing European operators from purchasing further hushkitted aircraft. It is only through such measures that we can help to offset the impact of increasing numbers of aircraft movements and limit the overall noise burden to which local communities are exposed.
Tim Johnson
Director
Aviation Environment Federation
London, UK
Source: Flight International
