Exclusive: U.S. and Europe clash over global supersonic jet noise standards

MONTREAL/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A U.S. push for new global standards to kickstart its fledgling supersonic jet industry is facing resistance by European nations that want tough rules on noise, according to documents and people familiar with the situation.    

Fifteen years after Concorde’s last flight, U.S. regulators are weighing rule changes to allow testing of early-stage supersonic jets, amid plans for American-made business and small passenger jets due in service by the mid-2020s. But the new industry could face delays at the United Nations aviation agency where the United States and European countries - including France, Germany and Britain - are squaring off over new noise rules needed for the jets to fly, five sources told Reuters, speaking about confidential talks on condition of anonymity.

The previously unreported dispute follows a 1990s clash on noise standards, when the European Union wanted to ban noisy older U.S.-made jets like the Boeing 727 from its airports and Washington threatened to retaliate by banning the Anglo-French Concorde.

This latest round pits U.S. ambitions for an American-led revival of supersonic jets by start-ups Aerion Supersonic, Boom Supersonic and Spike Aerospace against European fears of disruptive noise from the planes. Aerion, backed by Lockheed Martin Corp and GE, is considered by industry sources as the most advanced of the supersonic projects.

Boom will be making its first appearance at the Farnborough Airshow next week as it looks to cement the revival of the supersonic industry, which is struggling to design jets that meet current subsonic noise standards due to engine constraints.

“The politics are that Europe is way more worried about noise (around airports),” said an industry source familiar with the matter. “Europe has a problem but they have no reason to solve (it) because they have no industry pushing for this.”

That’s a reversal of disputes which delayed the beginning of Concorde’s transatlantic services in the 1970s, as first the U.S. Congress and then the New York Port Authority banned it due to noise. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has banned supersonic flights over U.S. land since 1973.

For now, the new jets plan to stick to over-water routes, though the FAA will eventually decide whether to allow overland flights after analyzing data from NASA in a study by 2025. An FAA spokesman couldn’t immediately comment.

Both Boeing and Airbus have mapped out futuristic visions for ultra-fast air travel.

But since the demise of Boeing’s planned near-supersonic Sonic Cruiser in 2002, the world’s two largest planemakers have focused on slower, fuel-efficient planes that allow airlines to lower ticket prices.

Now, U.S. startups are working to develop quieter and more fuel-efficient supersonic planes than Concorde, aimed at business travelers. They claim these can be economically viable with the right engine. They also pledge to dampen the famous sonic boom which depressed Concorde’s sales and restricted its operations until it was grounded for economic reasons in 2003.

The United Nations’ Montreal-based International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which sets many global standards, has started looking at supersonic jets by seeking technical information from planemakers.

ICAO will then be in a better position to assess options for standards on noise and emissions, and “how long the process should take,” a spokesman said.

The European countries think current noise limits should be used as “guidelines” for developing landing and take-off rules, according to a document presented to a recent ICAO committee meeting and seen by Reuters.

The United States, echoing industry’s demand, has called for new standards that reflect “fundamental differences” between subsonic and supersonic jets, according to a second document.

“Supersonic aircraft are different from subsonic aircraft and need to be treated as such,” said Mike Hinderberger, Aerion senior vice president of aircraft development at an industry conference last month. “You can’t try to shoehorn a supersonic aircraft into a subsonic standard.”

Aerion declined to comment further.

It’s not yet clear how other countries see supersonics or whether ICAO could craft a compromise.

Lengthy delays by ICAO would likely force planemakers to hold off, or risk investing millions in a design that “no one will certify,” said a U.S. industry source.

“It’s a chicken and egg argument,” added the first industry source. “How can you bring a plane to market if you don’t have the standards to meet?” The United States has urged ICAO to “move forward expeditiously” on new standards, according to a document reviewed by Reuters.

“The sooner the agencies finalize guidelines and standards, the sooner we can ensure our design meets those requirements,” said Vik Kachoria, CEO of Boston-based Spike Aerospace, which hopes to select an engine for its jet early next year.

The European nations, however, are seeking robust data. In a separate document on emissions, they said they do not expect new standards “before 2025 or later” because of insufficient data.

Boom CEO Blake Scholl said he had faith that the international community would ultimate reach agreement on supersonic noise standards, due in part to customer demand to get to destinations faster.

“Supersonic flight will be a critical driver of human progress, and we believe Europe’s citizens will embrace it,” he said. “We know noise is a sensitive issue, and we are designing with that in mind.”

Reporting By Allison Lampert in Montreal and Jamie Freed in Singapore; additional reporting by Julia Fioretti in Brussels and Mike Stone in Washington; Editing by Tim Hepher and Edward Tobin

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