FAA Supersonic Noise Rule Would End 50-Year Overland Flight Ban

The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a new supersonic noise rule to replace the decades-old prohibition on civil supersonic flight over U.S. land. The proposal shifts the regulatory framework from a blanket ban — in place since 1973 — to performance-based noise limits targeting both sonic boom mitigation and airport community noise.

Under the proposed framework, supersonic aircraft would be permitted to fly over land only if no perceptible sonic boom reaches the ground. For takeoff and landing phases, the FAA intends to align noise standards with existing Part 36 limits, ensuring that future supersonic transport designs are no louder than current subsonic airliners. The regulatory shift is backed by the Supersonic Aviation Modernization (SAM) Act, which passed the House of Representatives on March 24, 2026, and directs the agency to finalize supersonic transport noise standards by April 2027.

Industry developers, including Boom Supersonic, have identified these overland noise regulations as critical to commercial viability. The company's Overture aircraft aims to cut coast-to-coast travel time to approximately three hours. While the FAA continues to require Special Flight Authorizations for current test flights, the new rule is intended to establish a broader operational framework. The agency is also coordinating with international regulators to ensure compatibility for future global supersonic routes.