Fleet Stages.(Brief Article)

A preliminary look at options for new aircraft noise standards suggests that more than half the aircraft in existing United States fleets would fail to meet even the minimum tougher guidelines, according to an airline industry consultant.

The assessment by Brian Campbell, who is analyzing International Civil Aviation Organization proposals for the U.S. Air Transport Association, is nowhere near complete, but industry experts say it suggests how extensive new rules under discussion may go.

"What concems us right now is the process," said Steve Alterman, president of the Cargo Airline Association. "And if the process is flaky, we're very likely to get a flaky …