Enabling Supersonic Overland Flight
Key claim: The FAA proposes to repeal the longstanding ban on civil supersonic flight over U.S. land and replace it with a performance-based noise certification standard, enabling commercial supersonic aviation without case-by-case special authorization.
Abstract
(Proposed Rule · Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration) This proposal would advance the United States’ leadership in next-generation aviation by replacing the longstanding prohibition on civil supersonic flight over land with a modern, performance-based regulatory framework. Consistent with national policy set forth by the Executive Order of June 6, 2025, Leading the World in Supersonic Flight, this action would enable the safe, efficient, and commercially viable operation of civil supersonic aircraft in the United States. Current regulations prohibit flight operations of civil aircraft at a true flight Mach number greater than 1 in the U.S., except under the conditions and limitations of an operation-specific authorization from the Administrator, to protect the public from sonic boom. FAA has determined the general ban on civil supersonic flight is outdated and no longer appropriate due to advancements in technology, flight techniques that prevent sonic booms from reaching the surface, and increased interest in civil supersonic flight. FAA proposes to repeal this outdated and unnecessary prohibition and establish a corresponding interim noise-based certification standard to allow supersonic flights without an operation-specific special authorization clearing the way for next-generation supersonic flight. This rule removes regulatory barriers, provides clear pathways for testing and early commercial operations, and positions the United States to serve as the leader in setting global standards for supersonic flight. These actions will ensure that the United States leads the world in the safe, lawful, and rapid development and deployment of next-generation supersonic aviation.
Why this matters
Repealing the overland supersonic ban would reopen a category of commercial aviation that has been effectively closed since 1973, shifting the FAA from a prescriptive prohibition to a performance-based noise standard. The practical effect depends entirely on how stringent the certification thresholds are: a permissive standard could enable a new class of supersonic passenger service, while a strict one could preserve the status quo under a different legal form. It also sets a precedent for noise-based rather than speed-based aviation regulation.