Push for Supersonic Aviation in the U.S.
President Trump is taking steps to advance supersonic aviation in the United States.
In an executive order signed on Friday, he instructed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to eliminate regulations from 1973 that currently ban supersonic flights over land. This order aims to set new noise standards for these aircraft and to lift other restrictions that could slow the development of high-speed aviation.
“The United States stands at the threshold of a bold new chapter in aerospace innovation,” the president stated in the order.
He emphasized that for more than five decades, outdated rules have stifled American ingenuity and global competitiveness, allowing foreign rivals to take the lead.
Trump pointed out that advancements in engineering and technology have made supersonic travel “not only possible but also safe, sustainable, and commercially viable.”
“This order initiates a historic national effort to restore the United States’ status as a leader in high-speed aviation,” he declared. “By updating obsolete standards and integrating today’s and tomorrow’s technology, we will empower engineers, entrepreneurs, and visionaries to reshape air travel.”
Currently, only military aircraft can exceed the speed of sound over land, but they must operate in designated areas. The 1973 ban on overland supersonic flights was largely due to concerns over the disruptive sonic boom created when aircraft break the sound barrier.
However, new technologies have enabled companies like Boom Supersonic to create aircraft capable of cruising at Mach 1 without producing a sonic boom.
“Supersonic is back, baby!” exclaimed Blake Scholl, the founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, in a message on X this January, claiming that his company’s XB-1 jet became the first privately developed supersonic aircraft to break significant barriers.
Scholl noted that the long-standing ban on supersonic flight has hindered aviation progress for decades, but Trump’s actions could signal the start of a new era in commercial flight. He added, “By dismantling age-old regulatory barriers and fostering cutting-edge supersonic technology, President Trump is making aviation great once again.”
