US legislation requires that all Stage 2 aircraft be replaced, hushkitted or re-engined by the year 2000 and, in addition, US carriers had to ensure that 55% of their fleets were Stage 3 compliant by the end of 1994. Further deadlines call for 65% compliance by the end of 1996, followed by 75% at the end of 1998.
According to US Federal Aviation Administration figures, at the end of 1994 there were 4,427 Stage 3-compliant aircraft in the US fleet, compared with 3,943 a year earlier. The number of active Stage 2 aircraft was 2,250, compared with 2,372 at the end of 1993.
Under European Union noise rules, all Chapter 2 aircraft more than 25 years old were supposed to have been phased out by 1 April this year. Waivers were granted to some operators, however, because of economic hardship, with the fact being taken into consideration that no Stage 3 hushkits for the 707 and DC-8-50/-61 are available for delivery yet.
Source: Flight International
