View Rule

Current regulations prohibit routine flight operations of civil aircraft at a true flight Mach number greater than 1 in the United States, except under the conditions and limitations of a Special Flight Authorization (SFA) from the Administrator, to protect the public from sonic booms. FAA’s general ban on civil supersonic flight is no longer appropriate due to increased interest in civil supersonic flight, advancements in technology, and development of flight techniques that prevent sonic booms from reaching the surface. FAA proposes to repeal this prohibition and establish a corresponding interim noise-based certification standard based on aircraft performance and capabilities.