[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 58 (Thursday, May 11, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S3908]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   EUROPEAN UNION HUSHKIT REGULATION

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, the International Civil Aviation 
Organization, ICAO, is a specialized agency of the U.N. that has been 
tasked for more than 50 years with the safe and orderly growth of 
international civil aviation. Based in Montreal, this 185 countries 
strong organization develops international standards on such critical 
issues as noise, emissions, and air worthiness.
  I am saddened to report that, last week, the European Union dealt a 
severe blow to the integrity and future viability of this critical 
organization. I, of course, am speaking of the EU's implementation of 
the so-called hushkit regulation. This regulation bans hushkitted 
aircraft from being registered in Europe, prohibits such aircraft that 
are not European registered from flying in Europe within two years, and 
bars certain reengined aircraft with low by-pass ratios from European 
airspace. The regulation was implemented despite the fact that the 
aircraft in question meet the highest international noise standards.
  Thankfully, in March, the U.S. filed an Article 84 case within ICAO 
against the fifteen EU Member States arguing that the regulation 
violated the Chicago Convention. ICAO will review the matter this fall, 
and hopefully resolve it in a way that reaffirms its position as the 
sole, international standard setting body.
  Ironically, the EU wants to have its cake and eat it too. EU Members 
States are now anxious for ICAO to establish new, more stringent, Stage 
4 noise standards. Indeed, the U.S. is working with ICAO on this 
endeavor as we speak. The key question becomes, why should we develop 
new standards if the EU has demonstrated that the old ones can be 
disregarded at whim? If the EU wants Stage 4, it must begin by 
demonstrating its respect for Stage 3 by withdrawing the hushkit 
regulation.
  Mr. President, I will be following the resolution of this dispute 
very carefully. It is critical to future trading opportunities that the 
integrity of the ICAO process be upheld.

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