§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. Tony McNulty)I have today laid before Parliament The Aerodromes (Noise Restrictions) (Rules and Procedures) Regulations 2003, which will come into force on 6 August 2003.
The Regulations transpose into UK law Directive 2002/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 March 2002 on the establishment of rules and procedures with regard to the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at Community airports. The Directive replaces the Hushkits Regulation (EC925/ 1999—which introduced a blanket ban on the noisiest aircraft types).
The Directive and the new Regulations:
are designed to ensure that consistent procedures governing the introduction of new noise-related operating restrictions at airports are established across the European Union.will initially apply to the following airports:
- Birmingham
- Edinburgh
- Glasgow
- London Gatwick
- London Heathrow
- London Luton
- London Stansted
- Manchester
- London City
- Belfast City
do not require action to counter noise to be taken but set out a process that must be followed where such action is being contemplated;put in place a framework within which a "balanced approach" to managing aircraft noise can be implemented on an airport-by-airport basis.The balanced approach comprises four equally important elements:
reducing noise a t source (taking account of the effect of existing and foreseeable noise standards for engines);using operational noise abatement procedures (in other words, flying aircraft as quietly as possible, consistent with safe operation);using land-use planning and management policies to prevent or limit noise sensitive development around airports;restricting, and in extremis banning, aircraft from operating ("operating restrictions"). If banning noisiest aircraft at non-City airports is contemplated it is limited to those that meet the present International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) noise limitation standard ("Chapter 3") by a margin of 5dB or less. City Airports may impose 43WS more stringent bans provided that they do not affect aircraft which comply with the ICAO "Chapter 4" noise standards.The Department for Transport undertook a consultation with UK stakeholders between 31 July—31 October 2002 on those aspects of implementation of the Directive in the UK over which there was flexibility. A Summary of Responses to the Consultation and the Government's view on the issues raised by the responses has been placed in the Library of the House.