The total fleet has accumulated over 4.2 million flight hours. Recognizing the critical importance of developing a fixed-wing search and rescue and related mission aircraft, Airbus Military and its partners have developed a multi-role aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada engines, guided by Thales Canada avionics, and with training and simulation offered by CAE, from Canada.

It is proposed to include flights between EU-airports as from 2011 and flights departing and arriving in the EU as from 2012 but excludes not only testing ,rescue and training flights but also government flights .The allowances will be allocated in a harmonised way by the Member States which are in charge of the administrative follow-up of an aircraft operator : The total number of allowances will be based on the average emissions from aviation in the period 2004-2006.

While some of these can be justified in terms of their benefit to society (rescue flights), there is no reason why official or government flights should enjoy exemptions.

(b) military flights performed by military aircraft, flights by customs and police services, flights for search and rescue purposes as well as medical and disaster relief including fire-fighting which are authorised by the appropriate competent authority;

"Aviation Flights which arrive at or depart from an airport situated in the territory of a Member State to which the Treaty applies. This activity shall not include: (a) military flights performed by military aircraftflights by customs and police services, flights for search and rescue purposes as well as medical and disaster relief including fire-fighting which are authorised by the appropriate competent authority; (b) flights for humanitarian purposes under a mandate from the United Nations or its subsidiary organisations and Emergency Medical Service flights, if the aircraft operator has been instructed to perform them (e.g. by the United Nations) or hol ...[+++]ds the necessary official authorisation (licence for such EMS flights under its Air Operator's Certificate); (c) flights terminating at the aerodrome from which the aircraft has taken off and during which no intermediate landing has been made; (d) training flights performed exclusively for the purpose of obtaining a licence, or a rating in the case of cockpit flight crew where this is substantiated by an appropriate remark in the flight plan provided that the flight does not serve for the transport of passengers and/or cargo ; (e) flights performed exclusively for the purpose of scientific research or for the purpose of checking, testing, qualifying or certifying aircraft , equipment or air-traffic-management procedures , whether airborne or ground-based; ferrying new aircraft as well as ferry flights performed by or on behalf of an aircraft owner as a consequence of the occurrence of a sudden early termination event, event of default, repossession, or similar occurrence in respect of a leasing, charter or similar arrangement ; and (f) flights performed by aircraft with a certified maximum take-off weight of less than 20 000 kg , under the condition that operators of these aircraft participate in an offset scheme which operates according to strict criteria and which must be open to external control (comparab ...

"Aviation Flights which arrive at or depart from an airport situated in the territory of a Member State to which the Treaty applies. This activity shall not include: (a) military flights performed by military aircraftflights by customs and police services, flights for search and rescue purposes as well as medical and disaster relief including fire-fighting which are authorised by the appropriate competent authority; (b) flights for humanitarian purposes under a mandate from the United Nations or its subsidiary organisations and Emergency Medical Service flights, if the aircraft operator has been instructed to perform them (e.g. by the United Nations) or hol ...[+++]ds the necessary official authorisation (licence for such EMS flights under its Air Operator's Certificate); (c) flights terminating at the aerodrome from which the aircraft has taken off and during which no intermediate landing has been made; (d) training flights performed exclusively for the purpose of obtaining a licence, or a rating in the case of cockpit flight crew where this is substantiated by an appropriate remark in the flight plan provided that the flight does not serve for the transport of passengers and/or cargo ; (e) flights performed exclusively for the purpose of scientific research or for the purpose of checking, testing, qualifying or certifying aircraft , equipment or air-traffic-management procedures , whether airborne or ground-based; ferrying new aircraft as well as ferry flights performed by or on behalf of an aircraft owner as a consequence of the occurrence of a sudden early termination event, event of default, repossession, or similar occurrence in respect of a leasing, charter or similar arrangement ; and (f) flights performed by aircraft with a certified maximum take-off weight of less than 20 000 kg , under the condition that operators of these aircraft participate in an offset scheme which operates according to strict criteria and which must be open to external control (comparab ...