Trump Seeks New Supersonic Plane Noise Rules

The Federal Aviation Administration is working to establish new acceptable noise thresholds for supersonic flight by mid-2027, which could lead to the lifting of a decades-long ban on overland supersonic flights. It has been 23 years since Concorde darted passengers across the Atlantic Ocean in record time. To collect data to set these standards, NASA will conduct test flights to survey the population’s reaction to the noise.

The sonic booms that heavily restrained supersonic air travel could be a thing of the past. Boom Supersonic hopes to capitalize on a concept it calls “Boomless Cruise.” The startup successfully used the Mach cutoff phenomenon on its XB-1 demonstrator, causing sound waves to refract off the atmosphere rather than reach the ground.

With a similar goal in mind, NASA took its X-59 test plane supersonic for the first time in June to produce sonic “thumps” instead of booms. On the future of supersonic flight, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in an FAA release: “The Trump Administration is continuing its unprecedented work to deliver exciting new travel options to the American flying public — and we’re ensuring people on the ground won’t be subject to excessive noise.”

There’s a lot of money behind this supersonic revival. The Trump administration claims it wants to lift restrictions to stimulate the economy. In fairness, Boom Supersonic already has 35 orders for its debut airliner, the Overture, from American Airlines and United Airlines. With the new plane carrying a sticker price of $200 million, there’s a lot of money on the line for investors.

The airlines view supersonic flights as the ultimate halo product to outshine the competition. Also, Boom founder and CEO Blake Scholl coincidentally met with the President in the Oval Office last year. Financial upside aside, the larger concern should be the impact on the general population. NASA will hopefully use caution when conducting its test flight over populated areas.

It was a completely different story when the federal government tested how Oklahoma City’s residents reacted to sonic booms in 1964. U.S. Air Force jets bombarded the city with 1,253 sonic booms over six months. The massive backlash eventually led to the FAA’s 1973 ban on overland supersonic flights. If this ban is overturned, it should be due to advances in technology, not moneyed interests.

As the push for supersonic flight continues, similar situations in the past are worth examining. For instance, the development of Concorde faced significant challenges and controversies, including noise pollution and environmental concerns. The outcome of the current efforts to establish new noise thresholds will likely depend on the ability of companies like Boom Supersonic to balance technological advancements with public concerns.

In terms of numbers, NASA plans to conduct several test flights to collect data on the population’s reaction to the noise. The agency will use this data to set new standards for supersonic flight, which could potentially lead to the development of new supersonic aircraft. The FAA will then review these standards and make a decision on whether to lift the ban on overland supersonic flights.

The future of supersonic flight remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the development of new noise thresholds will play a significant role in determining the outcome. As Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy noted, the Trump Administration is committed to delivering new travel options to the American public, while also ensuring that people on the ground are not subject to excessive noise. Only time will tell if this goal can be achieved.

Boom Supersonic’s Overture is expected to have a major impact on the aviation industry, with its ability to fly at speeds up to Mach 2.2, making it an attractive option for airlines looking to offer faster travel options to their customers.