=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SF Gate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2002/02/20/i= nternational0926EST0571.DTL ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday, February 20, 2002 (AP) EU's ban on noisy planes affects two-thirds of Russian air fleet (02-20) 06:26 PST MOSCOW (AP) -- The European Union's ban on flights of noisy aircraft would ban nearly two-thirds of Russia's air fleet from European skies, the nation's top aerospace official said Wednesday. Of some 1,600 mid- and long-range aircraft in service with Russian carriers, only 35 percent meet the EU requirements, Russian Aerospace Agency Director Yuri Koptev said. Starting in April, the EU's decision would bar flights by Soviet-built Tu-134s, Il-62s, Il-76s, Il-86s and some versions of the Tu-154. These planes are the workhorses of Russian airlines, which have been short of funds to buy replacements. Some carriers may upgrade their Tu-154s to new European standards by installing noise-suppressing panels on their engines that cost about $150,000 per plane. But modernizing other aircraft would require installing new engines -- which is beyond the financial reach of most Russian airlines, Koptev said. Other officials have previously estimated that Russian carriers would lo= se 6,500 flights to Europe this year because of the EU measure, and opened so-far unsuccessful talks with EU officials to win concessions. Koptev said Wednesday that the EU ban would effectively bar Russian air cargo carriers from doing business in Europe. Installing new, quieter engines on their four-engine Il-76 transport planes would cost $12 million per plane, and "no one has shown a desire to do that yet," Koptev said. The Russian media have also said that the EU's action would deal a heavy blow to tourism sector, since the bulky Il-86s carry most Russian tourists to destinations in southern Europe and switching to other, less spacious aircraft would jack up ticket prices. Koptev said the government was trying to help modernize the aging aircra= ft fleet by launching state-funded leasing schemes that would make new Russian-built jets affordable for the airlines, but acknowledged that the effort would take time. =20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2002 AP