THE RECENT DECISION taken by the International Civil Aviation Organisation's Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) to postpone the implementation of stricter environmental standards (Flight International, 3-9 January) has been condemned by the Geneva-based Airports Council International (ACI), which is one of the Committee members.
Avi Gil, ACI's director of environmental affairs, has expressed his disappointment with the decision. "We believe there is an environmental need for increased stringencies on noise and engine emissions," says Gil.
The ACI has proposed a 4dB reduction in aircraft-noise certification standards at each measuring point for all new aircraft, and also called for a 20% increased stringency for NOx emission standards, over the 1996 requirements. On both issues, the 15-member CAEP was divided roughly equally, preventing any progress on these contentious issues.
Source: Flight International
