31. 12.81 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 348/3 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive amending Council Directive 80/51/EEC 
of 20 December 1979 on the limitation of noise emissions from subsonic aircraft 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the 
European Communities No C 276 of 28 October 1981, page 5. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 12 October 1981 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic 
and Social Committee in accordance with Article 84 (2) of the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community. 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The Economic and Social Committee prepared its opinion on the above matter at its 
192nd plenary session held in Brussels on 25 and 26 November 1981. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community, and in particular 
Article 84 (2) thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of 
the European Communities on 12 October 1981 for 
an opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive 
amending Council Directive 80/51/EEC of 20 
December 1979 on the limitation of noise emissions 
from subsonic aircraft 0), 
Having regard to the decision taken by its chairman 
on 21 October 1981, instructing the Section for the 
Protection of the Environment, Public Health and 
Consumer Affairs to draw up an opinion and a 
report on the matter, 
Having regard to the opinion adopted by the Section 
at its meeting on 3 November 1981, 
Having regard to the oral report presented by the 
rapporteur, Mr Kenna, at this meeting, 
Having regard to the discussions at its meeting of 
25 November 1981 (192nd plenary session of 25 and 
26 November 1981), 
Whereas the Commission, on 20 April 1976, issued 
its original proposals for a Directive on the limitation 
of noise emissions from subsonic aircraft (2); Whereas the Economic and Social Committee on 
28 October 1976 endorsed the proposal subject to 
comments which were set out in its opinion (3); 
Whereas the Council adopted Directive 80/51/EEC 
on 20 December 1979 on the limitation of noise 
emissions from subsonic aircraft (4); 
Whereas the Commission now believes it is necessary 
to update the Directive to take account of recent 
international actions on aircraft noise, while at the 
same time correcting the wording of the Directive, 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
1. The Commission proposes to make four 
changes: 
1. Technical changes to reflect amendments made 
by the International Civil Aviation Organization 
(ICAO) on 11 May 1981 to the Convention on 
International Civil Aviation; 
2. Extension of the Directive to aircraft less than 
20 tonnes (executive jets) in line with a position 
adopted by the European Civil Aviation 
Conference (ECAC) on 17 April 1980; 
(i) OJ No C 276, 28. 10. 1981, p. 5. 
(2) OJ No C 126, 9. 6. 1976, p. 2. (3) OJ No C 299, 18. 12. 1976, p. 16. 
(4) OJ No L 18, 24. 1. 1980, p. 26. 
No C 348/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 12. 81 
3. Elimination of a legal loophole in the present 
wording; 
4. Prohibition of subsonic jet aircraft registered in 
third countries which do not have noise 
certificates from landing in Community territory 
from 1 January 1988. 
2. In its 1976 opinion (l), the Committee gave 
detailed consideration to the basic policy issues 
relating to aircraft noise abatement. As these 
comments are still valid, it does not intend to repeat 
them here. The Committee would, however, draw 
attention to that opinion and reiterate the call for 
action on the different recommendations contained 
therein. 
3. The Committee notes that the proposed changes 
are, with one exception, of an essentially technical 
nature. The Committee endorses these technical 
changes in that they will update and improve the 
Directive. It notes, however, that the changes do not 
(') OJ No C 299, 18. 12. 1976, p. 16 
Done at Brussels, 25 November 1981. include the flexibility in the ICAO recommendation 
which would exempt airports in areas where non-
certificated aircraft would have minimal 
environmental impact. 
4. The proposal to prevent non-noise certificated 
subsonic jet aircraft registered outside the 
Community from landing in Community territory 
from 1 January 1988 is somewhat more substantive. 
Aircraft which will have been banned from the 
United States by 1 January 1985 and removed from 
the registers of the Member States by 31 December 
1986, will no longer be allowed to land at 
Community airports. The Commission is introducing 
this change in order to (a) preserve the improvement 
in the noise environment which the original Directive 
achieves, and (b) ensure that third country airlines do 
not gain a competitive advantage over Community 
countries. The Committee welcomes the 
Commission's efforts to progressively improve the 
noise environment. The Directive should, as far as 
possible, avoid disrupting arrangements for carrying 
out maintenance work in Community territory on 
aircraft from third countries, particularly developing 
countries. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Tomas ROSEINGRAVE