GOI TRANSPORT MINISTRY TO PRESIDE OVER AIRPORT

UNCLAS ROME 004617 SIPDIS BRUSSELS FOR JKESSLER, PLEASE PASS TO FAA - PFELDMAN; FAA PLEASE PASS TO CARL BURLESON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ECON ETRD IT AVIATION SUBJECT: GOI TRANSPORT MINISTRY TO PRESIDE OVER AIRPORT NOISE IMPLEMENTATION REF: A. ROME 02595 ¶B. SECSTATE 115832 ¶C. SECSTATE 29193 ¶1. GOI TRANSPORT MINISTRY DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ALDO SANSONE, ALSO A MEMBER OF THE ITALIAN DELEGATION TO THE EU-U.S. CIVIL AVIATION NEGOTIATIONS, CONFIRMED THAT THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION IS NOW FIRMLY IN CONTROL OF IMPLEMENTING THE EU'S AIRPORT NOISE DIRECTIVE DESCRIBED IN REFTELS. ¶2. ECONOFF ACCOMPANIED VISITING FAA REGIONAL DIRECTOR TO THE MEETING, IN WHICH ANY REMAINING DOUBT ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT WAS ERASED. THE ROLES DESCRIBED IN REFTEL (A) ARE REVERSED - THE MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT IS NOW REDUCED TO AN ADVISORY ROLE, WITH THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION ASSUMING PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPLEMENTING THE AIRPORT NOISE DECREE. ¶3. COMMENT: THIS SHIFT IN IMPLEMENTATION RESPONSIBILITY IS GOOD NEWS FOR U.S. CARGO AIR TRAFFIC TO ITALY. SANSONE EXPLAINED THAT A BAN ON NIGHT FLIGHTS IN ITALY HAD BEEN A POSSIBILITY WHEN THE ISSUE WAS STILL UNDER THE MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT. SANSONE AND THE VISITING FAA DIRECTOR AGREED THAT THIS ISSUE WAS BEST MANAGED BY THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION, SINCE "IT KNOWS AVIATION" AND CAN GRASP THE IMPLICATIONS OF ANY SUCH REGULATORY STEP UPON THE INDUSTRY AT LARGE. END COMMENT. SEMBLER NNNN 2003ROME04617 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED