Plan Prompts Vote to Ban Concorde

The House of Representatives voted unanimously last week to ban the Concorde supersonic passenger jet from U.S. airspace to retaliate against a proposed European Union rule that would ban some Boeing 727 aircraft used to haul air freight in Europe (3-1, p. 32).

The EU proposal would effectively prevent U.S. airlines from selling aircraft to European airlines if those aircraft have been modified with noise mufflers. European airlines would be allowed to buy and sell their modified aircraft. About 1,600 U.S.-registered aircraft used by cargo and package services and passenger airlines would be affected by the EU proposal.

The legislation, approved by the House after a brief debate March 3, would prohibit the commercial operation of supersonic transport aircraft if the EU adopts its rule, said Jimmy Duncan (R-Tenn.), chairman of the House Aviation Subcomittee.

“This is blatant, outrageous discrimination,” House Transportation Committee Chairman Bud Shuster (R-Pa.) said of the EU proposal.