[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 10, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S1429]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. HOLLINGS:
  S. 405. A bill to prohibit the operation of civil supersonic 
transport aircraft to or from airports in the United States under 
certain circumstances; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.


        commercial operation of supersonic transport legislation

 Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, today, I introduce legislation to 
ban the Concorde (flown by British Airways and Air France to the U.S.) 
from operating in the U.S. A companion bill is being offered in the 
House by Congressman Oberstar. This measure is in direct response to a 
pending European Union resolution which places arbitrary design-based 
barriers on the operation of U.S.-registered, huskitted, aircraft 
meeting the highest U.S. technological noise standards. The EU, under 
the guise of an environmental regulation, has essentially declared a 
trade war. Their regulation, a so-called ``non-addition rule,'' is to 
be voted on by the EU in mid-February to become effective April 1, 
1999. After that date, no U.S.-registered, stage 3 compliant aircraft 
(the quietest standard) can be operated in Europe. This EU regulation 
not only violates the Chicago Convention (which sets the framework for 
all bilateral aviation agreements) as it not only refuses to recognize 
U.S. air carriers' air worthiness certificates issued by our 
Government, it also holds great economic consequences for U.S. 
manufacturers and for many airlines. Those which are most vulnerable 
are small airlines and freight operators, which have fleets and 
operations based entirely on these aircraft. In essence, this ruling 
treats domestic and foreign operations differently in violation of the 
non-discrimination principle. The United States will not suffer such 
insidious trade practices lightly. I ask unanimous consent that the 
text of the bill be printed in the Record.

  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 405

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. COMMERCIAL OPERATION OF SUPERSONIC TRANSPORT 
                   CATEGORY AIRCRAFT.

       The Secretary of Transportation shall prohibit the 
     commercial operation of civil supersonic transport category 
     aircraft to or from an airport in the United States--
       (1) if the Secretary determines that the European Union has 
     adopted Common Position (EC) No. 66/98 as a final regulation, 
     unless
       (2) the Secretary also determines that such aircraft comply 
     with Stage 3 noise levels.
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