![Photo [Boom Supersonic]](https://avweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Overture-5.jpg)
The FAA has begun developing rules that could allow civil supersonic aircraft to operate over the U.S. under a new noise-based certification framework.
In a June 30 announcement, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the agency is taking “a pivotal step” toward enabling supersonic operations over the continental U.S., arguing that advances in aircraft design could allow supersonic flight without the disruptive sonic boom that led to a decades-long ban over land.
The FAA said the proposed rule would establish a noise-based certification framework for supersonic aircraft. A second rule, expected later this year, would set takeoff and landing noise standards for the new class of high-speed aircraft.
Together, the actions are intended to give manufacturers clearer regulatory guidance as they work to develop next-generation supersonic designs. FAA officials said the goal is to support safe operations while minimizing noise impacts on communities near airports and along flight paths.
The FAA has long prohibited civil aircraft from exceeding Mach 1 over land, a restriction tied to concerns about noise from sonic booms. Current research programs, including NASA-led efforts and industry demonstrators, have focused on shaping aircraft designs and flight profiles intended to soften or redirect shockwaves.
Under the proposed framework, supersonic aircraft would be evaluated based on measurable noise thresholds rather than a blanket prohibition on breaking the sound barrier over land. The FAA said it is also coordinating with international regulators and industry stakeholders as it develops the new standards.
The agency aims to finalize both the certification and operational noise rules by mid-2027.
The last regulation was to eliminate sonic booms. While there are not a lot of people around who have had to put up with that particular PITA I remember clearly as a kid growing up in the San Gabriel Valley. AT the time the local aerospace industry was very busy building supersonic fighters for the USAF. They would fly from the final assembly plant in Burbank, EL Segundo and the like over to Edwards AFB for final acceptance . the resulting Booms were a common occurrence (at least once or twice a week as the lowest point in the San Gabriel range was above Highway 39 which was only a few miles to the east. the rattle of the windows the sound and the shock was not just a noise BUT a significant LOUD sound. Now thew quiet boom projects will help BUT unless the over pressure on land is ZERO this should be a no show. OR routing should be over un or low populated areas. there are NUMEROUS studies showing that unexpected sharp loud sound cause significant negative effects in studies. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/AD0647326.pdf https://acta-acustica.edpsciences.org/articles/aacus/full_html/2024/01/aacus230059/aacus230059.html
None of these are conclusive except to show some negative effect.
The question becomes why are we going to continue to degrade our quality of life to make the wealthiest in the world more comfortable. they can already pay for private aircraft private yachts, private hotels all to separate thier acritivty form the rest of the world. Why do we have to pay for it with noise?