§ Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any new plans for making types of aircraft in current use quieter by means of retrofit or otherwise; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael HeseltineThe new types of quieter aircraft introduced since 1st January 1969 such as the Lockheed Tri-Star are already required to have noise certificates, which impose stringent noise limits. The older types of subsonic jet aircraft using Heathrow and other airports are at present exempt from our noise certification requirements. I shall, however, very shortly be asking our manufacturers and operators for comprehensive information about the noise reductions likely to be attainable by modifying these aircraft including the possible time scale and cost. The object will be to bring as many as possible of these aircraft within the scope of the requirements at a future date—say 1st January 1979. It is also my intention to amend the regulations at an early date so that after 1st January 1976 new production of these older types, at present exempt, will need to be noise certificated.
I am making available in the Library copies of a consultative document on this subject, which I shall be sending to air- 102W craft operators, manufacturers and others concerned.