WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3642/98 by Paul LANNOYE Noise pollution linked to air traffic
Date: 1998-12-03
Institutions: European Parliament, LANNOYE
Subjects: European standard, air traffic, aircraft, aviation fuel, competition law, noise, noise level, noise pollution, standard













EUR-Lex - 91998E3642 - EN






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91998E3642

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3642/98 by Paul LANNOYE Noise pollution linked to air traffic  


Official Journal C 320 , 06/11/1999 P. 0062 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-3642/98by Paul Lannoye (V) to the Commission(3 December 1998)Subject: Noise pollution linked to air trafficAir traffic is increasing by from 3 to 6 % a year and short-haul aircraft in particular are responsible for the most serious polluting emissions.The noise suffered by people living near airports may lead to chronic insomnia and various health problems.Following numerous complaints by those living near airports, some Member States have taken steps to ban some or all night flights, thus distorting competition in the EU.In its Green Paper on future noise policy, the Commission stresses the need for restrictive emission standards.The European Parliament has called for uniform binding standards throughout Union territory to limit noise from aircraft and areas near airports (resolution A4-0183/97)(1) and for a ban on night flights in certain circumstances (resolution A4-0279/98), and the joint transport and environment Council of 17 June 1998 envisaged the adoption of measures to reduce aircraft noise and polluting emissions as part of a policy of sustainable mobility that meets health and environmental requirements.What proposals is the Commission envisaging to limit the noise pollution inflicted on inhabitants, environmental damage and distortions of competition in the transport sector?Does the Commission not think that night flights should be strictly limited, if not banned, throughout EU territory?Is it considering abolishing preferential arrangements such as tax-free kerosene for air transport?Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission(4 February 1999)With a view to limiting the noise nuisance for people living around airports by targeting the most noisy types of aircraft, Community legislation already provides for the limitation of the operation of certain noisy aircraft (Council Directive 92/14/EEC of 2 March 1992 on the limitation of the operation of aeroplanes covered by Part II, Chapter 2, Volume 1 of Annex 16 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, second edition (l988))(2). The Commission has submitted a proposal relating to hushkitted aircraft(3) which will build upon existing legislation.More generally, the Commission will address the environmental and competition aspects of local restrictions to air transport in its forthcoming Communication on Air Transport and the Environment. This will include an assessment of the scope and contents of a possible future Community framework on operating restrictions at noise constrained airports (including the issue of night restrictions), taking into account the specific responsibility of local and regional authorities in this area.Concerning the taxation of kerosene, at the request of the Council a study on the economic and environmental impact of such taxation under different scenarios relating to taxation levels and the scope of application is currently being finalised. The Commission intends to present its assessment of the results of this study in the above-mentioned Communication.(1) OJ C 200, 30.6.1997, p. 28.(2) OJ L 76, 23.3.1992.(3) OJ C 118, 17.4.1998.