Politicians target Airbus

Legislation has been introduced in the United States that would require aircraft capable of carrying over 800 passengers to have the technology to combat weapons such as Stinger missiles.

If passed by Congress and signed by President George W. Bush, it would mean that the A380, currently under development by European aircraft manufacturer Airbus, would have to have such technology installed or the planes could not fly in the US.

The bill does not specifically mention the A380, but that aircraft is the only one currently being developed that could carry that many people. Representative John Mica, the Republican chairman of the House aviation committee who introduced the bill, has denied that his legislation is aimed at Airbus.

The introduction of the bill, however, comes at a time when the US and the European Union have a dispute before the World Trade Organization that concerns government subsidies paid to Airbus and Boeing, its US rival. An Airbus official called the legislation “silly” and dismissed the legislation as an attempt to give Boeing an advantage in the marketplace.

In the US the bill is opposed by the Air Transport Association, which represents US airlines, as an attempt to mandate aircraft technology through legislation.