Brussels, 25/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is seeking to negotiate a friendly agreement with Russia aimed at an effective ban on out-of-date Russian aircraft in Europe, from April on. In 1990, the member nations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), including Russia, had adopted a resolution providing for a gradual ban on the noisiest aircraft, "chapter 2" aircraft according to the ICAO classification. The EU Council adopted, in 1992, a directive that transposes the agreement and provides for the ban on "chapter 2" aircraft in the EU from 1 April 2002.
As the deadline comes closer, Russia refuses to comply with the ban and threatens retaliatory measures, such as an increase in the tax for flying over Siberia, which is already a bone of contention between the EU and Russia. During a meeting in Moscow in May 2001, Russia had insisted on the difficulties encountered by some companies that carry Russian tourists towards the Mediterranean coast, especially, it would seem, a company from Saint Petersburg. Some 200 Russian planes are involved.
During the meeting of Permanent Representatives last Friday, the Commission proposed a temporary solution, consisting in giving exceptional clearance for these charter and cargo aircraft to land in European airports during the summer 2002 season, beginning in April. Following the latest provisions adopted by the ICAO, decisions could be taken for each individual airport. Member States gave a generally favourable welcome to this strategy, but the Netherlands, whose citizens are particularly sensitive to noise problems around airports, nonetheless expressed reservation. They fear it could become a precedent. Germany called for more information on the consequences of such a decision.
The case is all the more sensitive politically as the EU has been muscle-wrestling with the United States in order to ban the registration in Europe of "chapter 2" aircraft, which are reclassified under category "chapter 3" thanks to the fitting of sound-reducing devices, the "hushkits". The question had finally been resolved with Washington thanks to the adoption of new international rules at the ICAO.