The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that it will soon take the latest step towards enabling civil supersonic flights over the continental United States.
A newly-proposed rule aims to set a noise-based certification standard for supersonic aircraft, whilst the FAA has also announced plans to propose another rule regarding land and takeoff noise standards for supersonic aircraft later this year.
Together, these two actions will aim to give manufacturers the appropriate guidance necessary to finalise their designs.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said:Advances in aerospace engineering, materials science, noise reduction, and new operational concepts will eliminate the old sonic boom.
This means we can ultimately repeal the ban from the 1970s on supersonic flight over U.S. territory while minimising noise impacts to residents in communities along the route and near airports.
The FAA has stated that it aims to finalise both rules by mid-2027.
