Pulling back from the brink of yet another exchange of sanctions with the United States, European Union transport ministers have decided to take a new look at their proposed ban on aircraft fitted with 'hush kits'.
The move probably will mean another delay in the introduction of the EU's tough new noise reduction legislation.
Last April ministers bowed to pressure from Washington and agreed to postpone the introduction of the controversial new noise standards by a year until next May.
It may also signal a more serious climbdown. There are fears the ministers may now be bullied into accepting less stringent noise standards, despite the protests from environmentalists while groups directly affected by aircraft noise say the kits are not enough.
However, the US Government argues the kits meet International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) noise standards. It has repeatedly threatened action in the ICAO and the World Trade Organisation if the ban goes ahead.
It has even threatened to ban the supersonic - and very noisy - Concorde from landing at US airports in retaliation.
