AIRPORT NOISE IN ITALY: NO IMMINENT NIGHT FLIGHT

UNCLAS ROME 002595

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

FAA HDQRS FOR CARL BURLESON
BRUSSELS FOR FAA
USDOC FOR 4220/MAC/EUR/SED/DDEFALCO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR ETRD ECON IT EUN FAA AVIATION
SUBJECT: AIRPORT NOISE IN ITALY: NO IMMINENT NIGHT FLIGHT
RESTRICTIONS

REF: A. STATE 115832

B. ROME 1229

C. STATE 29193

(U) This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please
handle accordingly. Not for internet distribution.


1. (SBU) Summary. Environment Ministry officials, in
contrast to their previous statements, told U.S. industry
representatives in a recent meeting that there are currently
no plans to ban night flights in Italy. Officials from
Italy's Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that a 1999
Presidential Decree banning night flights in Italy is not in
force. The Transportation Ministry has been granted an
advisory role on the implementation of the EU Airport Noise
Directive. End Summary.


2. (U) On Tuesday, May 20, representatives from FedEx, DHL
and United Technologies met with officials from the Ministry
of the Environment and from Italy's Civil Aviation Authority
(ENAC) to discuss the GOI's implementation of the EU Airport
Noise Directive and its adherence to ICAO's balanced approach.

Ministry of the Environment
--------------


3. (U) Participants:
Nazzareno Penna, Director, Office of Acoustic Pollution
Lucio De Carolis, Technical Expert on Noise Pollution
Darcy Nicolle, United Technologies
Ralph Carter, FedEx
Morgan Foulkes, DHL
David Mulenex, Science Counselor
Jessamyn Allen, Economic Officer
David Reimer, Consulate Milan


4. (SBU) In contrast with our March meeting (Ref B),Penna
appeared amicable and familiar with both the ICAO balanced
approach and the EU Directive on airport noise, often quoting
parts of the EU Directive to the group in support of his
statements. At the same time, Penna expressed his belief
that the four elements (1) reduction of noise at source; (2)
land use planning and management; (3) operating procedure,
and (4) operating restrictions, were not/not listed in
priority order. While stating that there were no plans at
present to ban night flights in Italy (a change from his
previous statements),Penna reminded us that his constituents
were the environment and the Italian people and not industry
or airports.


5. (SBU) After the industry group walked Penna through UK
and French airport noise studies, he said that he was open to
a dialogue with industry and explained that it might also be
useful for the industry team to meet with the appropriate
parties at the local level, including the airport committees
and the twenty-one regional agencies of Italy's Environmental
Protection Agency (APAT). While supporting discussions at
the local level, he underscored with us that his office made
the final decision nationally on implementing the EU
Directive.

Italy's Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC)
--------------


6. (U) Participants:
Alessandro Cardi, Head of Regulation Service
Franco Conte, Airport Planning
Enrico Deodati, Office of Airport Coordination
Darcy Nicolle, United Technologies
Ralph Carter, FedEx
Morgan Foulkes, DHL
Jessamyn Allen, Economic Officer


7. (SBU) As expected, ENAC officials expressed their
support for ICAO's balanced approach and explained that they
were still working on having the jurisdiction for
implementing the EU Directive moved to the Ministry of
Transportation, or at the least, giving the MOT an advisory
role in the process. (NOTE: We were informed several days
later that the Ministry of Transportation (and thus ENAC) had


been granted this advisory role and would begin to work with
the Ministry of the Environment on the implementation of the
EU Directive. End Note.)

8. (U) During the meeting, ENAC officials explained the
system of noise zones around the airports and told us that
that airport noise studies are being conducted at all Italian
airports with potential noise pollution problems. At the end
of the meeting, ENAC officials presented us with a copy of a
Presidential Decree of 1999 banning night flights between
2300 and 0600. Several days later Cardi called to explain
that this decree had been annulled and was not in effect as
had previously been thought.


9. (SBU) Comment. There appears to be no imminent threat of
a GOI ban on night flights in Italy. Moreover, with the
Ministry of Transportation now having the authority to advise
the Ministry of the Environment on the implementation of the
EU Airport Noise Directive, the GOI is more likely to adhere
to a balanced approach. Embassy will monitor this issue
closely and continue urging the GOI to avoid operating
restrictions as a measure of first resort to control noise
levels at airports. End Comment.
SKODON
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2003ROME02595 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED