Skies are unfriendly over European Union, says U.S.(Brief Article)

WASHINGTON -- The quiet wars have begun -- and the United States is speaking up.

At issue are European rules mandating that aircraft be equipped with noise reduction devices, a rule U.S. airlines have found especially troublesome.

Now, a formal charge has been targeted at the member states of the European Union, alleging discrimination against U.S. airlines and aircraft manufacturers.

The charge was contained in the U.S. application to the International Civil Aviation Organization requesting that it resolve a trans-Atlantic dispute over the "hushkit" regulation.

"This action demonstrates the United States is standing up for the principle …