July 3, 2013
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) moved forward this week on a congressional mandate to phase out the loudest civil turbojet aircraft operating in the United States. After Dec. 31, 2015, operation of almost all jet aircraft weighing 75,000 pounds or less will be banned from operating from the contiguous U.S. unless they meet Stage 3 noise compliance requirements or higher.
The ruling outlines some exemptions from the prohibition for Stage 2 jets – including for those airplanes being used on an experimental airworthiness certificate or for those being flown to obtain Stage 3 modifications – or to discontinue ownership of the airplane.
The final ruling, published on July 2, locks in the phase-out date established by Congress in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, and it comes following extensive discussions between regulators and industry representatives to find a suitable timeframe in consideration of the time and costs necessary for operators to modify or replace their aircraft.
“Dialogue has been underway for many years to determine a date for a Stage 2 phase-out for NBAA Members and to make the timeline and procedure for that phase-out as workable for those companies as possible,” stated NBAA Chief Operating Officer Steve Brown.
“As those discussions have taken place, NBAA has continuously reminded agency officials and congressional lawmakers about the need for companies to have sufficient accommodation for significantly modifying or replacing a major asset like a business airplane to meet Stage 2 phase-out requirements,” Brown added. “Government leaders have taken our concerns into account and have therefore refrained from finalizing a Stage 2 restriction on business aircraft for more than two decades after enacting legislation calling for such restrictions on airliners and other large aircraft.”
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.