Noise Crackdown Would Mean Fewer Tourists, Less Money

The European Union has warned newly-incorporated Cyprus over the high number of Russian and former Soviet aircraft flying into that country -- not over safety issues, but rather because they're just too noisy.

According to a report in the Cyprus Mail newspaper, the EU has written to the Cyprus government warning the situation is unacceptable and the governing body would take steps to remedy the situation, which the governing body maintains goes against a previous EU resolution banning such aircraft from the skies over Europe.

The government has, in turn, requested a delay in the EU crackdown of noisy aircraft, stating a high number of Russian tourists visit the tiny nation each year, flying in on old Soviet-era jets but bringing much-needed cash with them.

"It is mainly Russians that are coming on these large planes,” Cypriot Communications and Works Minister Haris Thrasou said. “We want to implement the ban gradually so as not to affect tourism."

Thrasou added reports of the EU taking imminent steps to ban the noisy airliners were exaggerated.

"There was a letter a few months ago about this issue," he said. "We explained to them first of all that there was a dialogue now between the EU and Russia about this, and we told the EU we would wait to hear from them on the result of their talks with the Russians and we shall comply with the relevant decisions."
 
Nevertheless, Thrasou also admitted he had a meeting last week with a representative from Aeroflot, during which he stressed the necessity of dealing with the noise issues cited by the EU.

The Russian carrier flies six Il-96s (file photo of type, above) into Cyprus, which reportedly comprise approximately 40 percent of the carrier's current long haul fleet. The Russians are trying to gradually replace the noisy airliners on international routes, said Thrasou, relegating the older jets to domestic runs.

While noting there were still violators coming in from Russia, Thrasou said the situation is much better than it was last year when flights from Ukraine, Moldavia, and Belarus were also flying into Cyprus.

"This year we have much less and we are trying gradually to phase them out," he said.

Russia is reportedly upset with the EU over the current noise restrictions, with Moscow supporting a gradual withdrawal of high noise level aircraft, otherwise the country’s economy would be damaged. The nation is also opposed to new, even tougher EU noise-pollution rules set to go into effect next year, stating  they are being implemented without any prior discussion with the International Civil Aviation Organization.

FMI: www.icao.org