U.S Supersonic Ban Ordered To Be Rescinded The current United States White House has issued an Executive Order pushing for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to repeal the long-standing ban of overland supersonic flights. This news would have been received well by many companies who are trying to revive the commercial supersonic realm in the United States. BOOM Supersonic is the current most advanced entity conducting supersonic testing.
The ban which was instituted around 1973 has been in place since then and restricts civil supersonic flight exceeding MACH 1 over land. The current sitting government in the United States calls the ban "outdated and overly-restrictive regulations". BOOM Supersonic took its XB-1 demonstrator across the sound barrier officially for the first time towards the end of January, 2025.
On the other hand there is another aircraft currently in testing. It is the result of a collaboration between NASA and Lockheed Martin. The X-59 QueSST is a one-of-kind demonstrator that is conducting vital tests and research that will reduce the loudness of sonic booms down to a gentle thump which in the future will guide new supersonic aircraft's design to permit civil supersonic flight over land. In late December 2024 the X-59 performed maximum afterburner engine run testing.
As for the Executive Order, it is not something that will happen immediately. The FAA has to start to make steps to repeal the ban within 6 months. Additionally, the FAA is expected to now issue a notice of proposed rulemaking within 18 months and then the final order by 24 months. This then establishes noise certification standard for supersonic aircraft to cover acceptable noise regimes for take-off, enroute flight as well as landing. ***
