The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has begun the regulatory process to allow commercial and private supersonic flights over land.
This proposal will replace the longstanding ban on civil supersonic flights over land with a modern regulatory framework for the safe, efficient, and commercially viable operation of civil supersonic aircraft in the US.
Current regulations prohibit civil aircraft from flying at a Mach number greater than 1 in the US to protect the public from sonic boom.
According to the FAA, the general ban on civil supersonic flights is outdated and no longer appropriate due to advancements in technology and flight techniques that prevent sonic booms from reaching the surface.
The FAA’s proposal follows an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump in June last year. The public will now have 45 days to comment on the proposal ahead of a final rule.
The FAA will also propose a rule later this year establishing landing and take-off noise standards for supersonic aircraft.
