Supersonic flight returning to US after half-century ban
The Resurgence of Supersonic Travel in the United States
By Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes Staff
Published: June 30, 2026
The United States is on the verge of ending a half-century-long prohibition on supersonic travel over its own soil. The Trump administration has initiated a pivotal shift, arguing that modern engineering can now achieve speeds exceeding the speed of sound without producing the disruptive, thunderous noise known as a "sonic boom."
A 2016 image featuring co-founders Joe Wilding and Blake Scholl at their Colorado facility.
✈️ The Regulatory Shift
The Department of Transportation is moving to replace the blanket ban with a specific noise threshold. According to a recent FAA notice in the Federal Register, aircraft will be permitted to fly at Mach 1 or faster over land, provided the noise generated remains below a designated limit.
This transition stems from a June 2025 executive order by President Donald Trump, which mandated that the FAA:
- Repeal the existing prohibition on overland supersonic flight.
- Create an interim certification standard based on noise.
- Eliminate other regulatory hurdles slowing the growth of supersonic tech in the U.S.
Timeline of Regulatory Change
🔊 The Science and History of the "Boom"
For decades, the primary obstacle to supersonic flight was public outcry over noise pollution. When a plane travels faster than the speed of sound—which is approximately:
It creates shock waves that manifest on the ground as a violent, gunshot-like crack. During the 1960s, experiments in Oklahoma City proved that these booms could:
- Shatter windows
- Cause property damage
- Trigger thousands of citizen complaints
Consequently, the 1973 FAA ruling determined that technology was simply not advanced enough to protect the public, leading to a total ban on civil aircraft exceeding Mach 1 over land.
"Technological advances will eliminate the old sonic boom," stated FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. "This means we can ultimately repeal the ban from the 1970s on supersonic flight over U.S. territory while minimizing noise impacts to residents in communities along the route and near airports."
🌍 The Concorde Legacy
While the ban was in place, the Concorde (operated by British Airways and Air France) continued to fly. However, it was forced to fly at subsonic speeds whenever it entered U.S. airspace to reach JFK International Airport in New York.
| Route | Status | Profitability |
|---|---|---|
| London New York | Active | High (Business/Celebrity travel) |
| Overland U.S. | N/A |
🚀 The New Era of High-Speed Aviation
Today, a new wave of aerospace companies is designing luxurious, fuel-efficient jets that prioritize "quiet" booms.
Key Industry Players:
- Boom Supersonic (Colorado): Developing the Overture jet.
- Capacity: 60–80 passengers.
- Backing: Pre-orders from American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines.
- Spike Aerospace (Atlanta): Developing the Diplomat jet.
- Capacity: Up to 18 passengers.
Industry Goals:
- Reduce sonic boom intensity
- Increase fuel efficiency
- Achieve transatlantic flight times of under 4 hours
Current Status Summary
{
"regulation_status": "Transitioning",
"current_limit": "Mach 1 (Overland)",
"proposed_limit": "Noise-based threshold",
"expected_completion": "2027-06"
}