EU loses latest round of hush-kit dispute

The International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) rejected on 16 November the EU's argument that US complaints about its hush kit initiative were inadmissible. The next round of this long-running dispute will be the EU's defence of the complaint in ICAO's dispute settlement mechanism.

A hush-kit is a device that can be fitted to the engines of a plane to reduce the noise levels that it produces. The hush-kit regulation (EC No 925/1999) prohibits aircraft fitted with hush-kits from using European airports. This prohibition has applied to European companies since 4 May 2000 and will come into effect for non-European companies from April 2002.

The US government criticised the EU measure as hush-kits are US made and primarily fitted to the aircraft of US carriers. The prohibition would not only effect the ability of US carriers to operate in Europe, but it would also make it impossible for them to sell older planes fitted with hush-kits to European carriers.

The EU sees the hush-kit initiative as part of a responsible environmental policy aimed at reducing both noise levels and pollution from aircraft engines. By prohibiting the use of hush-kit aircraft, the EU aims to make it impossible for companies to expand their operations in Europe using older aircraft that add to already high levels of noise and air pollution around airports.