Belgium stands firm against noisy US planes

Date: 18/07/02

By Peter Chapman

TINY Belgium is the last man standing in a transatlantic trade fight over plans to keep noisy old US planes out of Europe.

In a move that has incurred US wrath, the country has kept its night-time ban on aircraft fitted with noise reduction equipment. The law flies in the face of a decision by the rest of the EU to drop restrictions on 'hush-kitted' planes, following pressure from Washington.

Transport Minister Isabelle Durant said last month she was 'determined' to defend her country's controversial law, which prevents planes such as Boeing 727s - used mainly by cargo firms - landing between 11pm and 6am.

'There is no reason to accept the United States' economic logic to preserve the interest of Boeing,' she said.

The US announced in June it was dropping its complaint with the International Civilian Aviation Organisation (ICAO) against EU member states over the hush-kit issue. But the case against Belgium continues, with US officials saying its night-time ban runs counter to an ICAO agreement in October 2001 and the European directive transposing this into EU law.

However, Commission spokesman Gilles Gantelet said there was no justification for the US action against Belgium.

He said the EU had agreed to axe the hush-kit rules and it was up to the Commission - not the US - to check whether Belgium was breaching the law. Officials were currently analysing the situation, he added.

Belgium is the only EU country to keep its night-time ban on aircraft fitted with noise reduction equipment. Article is part of a European Voice survey on Aviation.