No C 37/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 14. 2. 89 
Objective 4 
To ensure the development of a strategy and action plan 
for the progressive launch of HDTV services in Europe 
throughout the 1990s. 
Article 2 
In order to attain the objectives referred to in Article 1, 
an action plan for the introduction of HDTV will be 
prepared, under the responsibility of the Commission in 
consultation with the: 
— Member States' authorities, 
— terrestrial broadcasters, 
— satellite TV stations, — cable operators, 
— professional and consumer electronics equipment 
manufacturers, 
— television and film production industry, 
throughout the Community, and throughout Europe as a 
whole, in close cooperation with the Eureka HDTV 
project actors and coordinators. 
Article 3 
On the basis of the results of the consultations, and on a 
proposal from the Commission, the Council shall decide 
an action plan for the introduction of HDTV services. 
This action plan will also include mechanisms allowing 
European third countries to participate. 
Proposal for a Council Directive on the limitation of noise emission from civil subsonic jet 
aeroplanes 
COM(88) 662 final 
(Submitted by the Commission on 7 December 1988) 
(89/C 37/06) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 80/51/EECO, as amended by Directive 83/206/ 
EEC (2), fixes limits on emission of such noise; 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 84 (2) 
thereof, Whereas the priority programme of the Council for the 
study of air transport questions refers to emissions from 
aeroplanes including noise; 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European 
Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas the application of noise emission standards to 
civil subsonic jet aeroplanes has significant consequences 
for the provision of air transport services in particular 
where such standards impose restrictions on the type of 
aeroplanes that may be operated by airlines, encourage 
investment in the latest and quietest aeroplanes available 
and facilitate the better use of existing capacity, 
including that of airports; whereas Council Directive Whereas the programme of action of the European 
Communities on the environment (3) shows clearly the 
importance of the problem of noise and, in particular, 
the need to take action against noise due to air traffic; 
Whereas aeroplane noise should be further reduced, 
taking into account environmental factors, technical 
feasibility and economic consequences; 
Whereas, therefore, it is appropriate to restrict the 
addition of civil subsonic jet aeroplanes to Member 
States' registers to those which comply with the 
standards specified in Part II, Chapter 3, Volume 1 of 
Annex 16 to the Convention on International Civil 
Aviation, first edition (November 1981), and, in 
conjunction with the creation of an area without internal 
(') OJ No L 18, 24. 1. 1980, p. 26. 
(2) OJ No L 117, 4. 5. 1983, p. 15. 
(J) OJ No C 328, 7. 12. 1987, p. 1. 
14. 2. 89 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 37/7 
frontiers, it would be reasonable to exclude from this 
non-addition rule aeroplanes on national registers of 
Member States on 1 November 1990; whereas, due to 
the freedom of movement such a rule would allow, it is 
essential that exemptions are limited and that those 
granted, closely monitored and restricted in time; 
Whereas common rules for this purpose should be 
introduced in a reasonable timescale to ensure that 
a harmonized approach prevails throughout the 
Community, supplementing existing rules; whereas this is 
particularly important in view of the recent impetus given 
to limited deregulation of European air traffic; 
Whereas the work undertaken by the Community in 
cooperation with other international bodies indicated 
that limiting the addition to Member States' registers of 
aeroplanes which are unable to meet the noise certifi­
cation standards specified in Chapter 3 of Annex 16, 
would in itself be of limited environmental benefit, and 
should therefore be considered only as a first stage, to be 
followed by measures to limit the operation of aero­
planes which do not comply with the standards of 
Chapter 3 of Annex 16, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 
Article 1 
1. The objective of this Directive is to lay down 
stricter rules for the limitation of noise emission from 
civil subsonic jet aeroplanes. 
2. This Directive does not apply to aeroplanes with a 
maximum take-off mass of 34 000 kg or less. 
Article 2 
1. Member States shall ensure that, as from 1 
November 1990, civil subsonic jet aeroplanes registered 
or leased for use after that date in their territory, or in 
the territory of another Member State may not be 
operated in their territory unless granted a noise 
certificate to the standards at least equal to those 
specified in Part II, Chapter 3, Volume 1 of Annex 16 to 
the Convention on International Civil Aviation, first 
edition (November 1981). 
2. Paragraph 1 does not apply to aeroplanes on the 
national registers of Member States on 1 November 
1990. Article 3 
Member States may grant exemptions from the 
provisions of Article 2 for: 
(a) aeroplanes of historic interest; 
(b) aeroplanes which replace an equivalent number of 
aeroplanes which have been accidently destroyed. 
Article 4 
Member States may grant exemptions from the 
provisions of Article 2, on an annual basis and for no 
more than five years in total, for: 
(a) aeroplanes which were used by the operator, being 
an operator of a Member State, before 1 January 
1989, under hire purchase or leasing contracts still 
in effect, and which for that reason have been 
registered in a non-member State; 
(b) aeroplanes leased to an operator of a non-member 
State which for that reason have been temporarily 
removed from a Member State's register; 
(c) aeroplanes which are leased from a non-member 
State on a short-term basis provided that the 
operator demonstrates that this is the normal practice 
in his sector of the industry and that the pursuit of 
his operations would otherwise be adversely affected. 
Article 5 
1. A Member State granting exemptions shall inform 
the competent authorities of the Member States and the 
Commission of the fact and of the criteria for their 
decision. 
2. Member States shall recognize the exemptions 
granted by other Member States in respect of aeroplanes 
on the registers of those Member States. 
Article 6 
1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, 
regulations and administrative provisions necessary to 
comply with this Directive before 30 September 1989. 
2. Member States shall communicate to the 
Commission the text of the provisions which they adopt 
in the field covered by this Directive. 
Article 7 
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.