Supersonic aircfart coming to the US Skies. Photo: Shutterstock The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed new noise certification standards for next-generation supersonic aircraft, marking a major step toward allowing civil supersonic flights over the continental United States.
The proposal is designed to support new aircraft capable of flying faster than the speed of sound while significantly reducing or eliminating the disruptive sonic booms that led to a ban on overland supersonic flights in the 1970s.
The FAA said it will introduce a second proposal later this year covering landing and takeoff noise requirements, with both rules expected to be finalized by mid-2027.
"Restoring supersonic flight over land isn't just about speed, it's about unleashing American innovation," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, adding that the new framework will help manufacturers bring the next generation of aircraft into service.
According to the FAA, advances in aircraft design, materials and flight techniques such as Mach cutoff could allow supersonic aircraft to operate while minimizing noise for communities below.
If adopted, the new standards would lay the regulatory foundation for a new era of faster commercial travel, with supersonic aircraft capable of flying at Mach 1 or above, more than 770 mph, compared with around 550–600 mph, for today's commercial airliners.
At the end of June, we reported that the FAA, together with the U.S. Department of Transportation, broke ground on a new research facility aimed at supporting the safe integration of next-generation air taxis into American skies.