Supersonic Flight
"This order begins a historic national effort to reestablish the United States as the undisputed leader in high-speed aviation." Executive Order 14304—Leading the World in Supersonic Flight
Executive Order 14304 directs the FAA to repeal the 53-year prohibition on overland supersonic flight by establishing a noise-based certification standard for supersonic aircraft. It also calls for the FAA to secure aviation safety agreements with foreign aviation authorities for the safe international operation of supersonic aircraft.
What is Supersonic Flight?
- Aircraft flying at supersonic speeds –Mach 1– are traveling approximately 770 miles per hour.
- For perspective, commercial airlines generally fly between 550 and 600 miles per hour.
- Advances in aerospace engineering, materials science, and noise reduction now make supersonic flight not just possible, but safe, sustainable, and commercially viable.
- Supersonic flight can cut travel times significantly for both the passengers and cargo.
- Reduced travel times will allow travelers to maximize their time on the ground and will substantially enhance U.S. economic resilience by improving business efficiency and the speed of commerce.
Regulatory Pathways: The FAA’s Role
As part of the broader strategic vision aiming for key milestones by 2027, the FAA is establishing approval processes for civil supersonic research flights and testing authorizations. The FAA published the first of two proposed rules to establish a new era of supersonic commercial aviation in the United States. The FAA aims to finalize both rules by mid-2027.
| Regulatory Milestone | Description & Impact |
|---|---|
| Rule 1: Operational Certification | The rule would establish a noise-based operational certification standard – a requirement to prevent harmful sonic booms from reaching the ground. This would repeal the ban on supersonic flight over the U.S. dating back to 1973. |
| Rule 2: Noise Thresholds | The second rule will define acceptable noise thresholds for takeoff, landing, and supersonic cruise flight based on testing and research, considering community acceptability, economic reasonableness, and technological feasibility. |
Environmental Impact & Noise Mitigation: Strategic Partnerships
Overcoming the environmental hurdles unique to civilian high-speed transport requires extensive public data and international standards harmonization. The FAA is collaborating with academic institutions, NASA and ICAO – applying research to formulate supersonic noise standards.
- ASCENT Center of Excellence: The FAA-sponsored ASCENT Center of Excellence is conducting research on supersonic aircraft noise. ASCENT research has examined engine noise reduction, aircraft design, noise prediction tools, and provided support for ICAO standards development.
- Academic Research: Georgia Tech Research Institute is leading FAA-funded aeroacoustics research under ASCENT, using computer models to optimize aircraft engine configurations and find ways to meet noise regulations. Stanford, Illinois and Penn State also are conducting key research to find ways to reduce noise.
- NASA & Quesst Mission: NASA is conducting flight tests with its X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft via the Quesst mission. The X-59 demonstrates technology to fly faster than the speed of sound without generating loud sonic booms but rather sonic “thumps.” This research is key to helping the FAA finalize the first rule.
- ICAO International Harmonization: ICAO has developed landing and takeoff noise standards for supersonic aircraft. These standards and recommended practices require new supersonic aircraft designs to meet the same noise limits as modern passenger jets during takeoff and landing.