Trump Administration Advances Supersonic Flight

Supersonic Flight Ban Lifted in the U.S.

An executive order was signed by President Donald Trump on Friday, directing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to remove the 52-year prohibition on supersonic flight within U.S. airspace. This represents a significant change in policy, following recent bipartisan legislative efforts aimed at achieving the same outcome.

The order mandates that the FAA terminate the existing ban on overland supersonic travel. It also calls for the development of certification standards based on noise levels. This will permit flights exceeding the speed of sound, provided that no discernible sonic boom is audible on the ground.

Accelerating Commercial Supersonic Development

Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, stated on Friday that Americans should have the capability to travel between New York and Los Angeles in less than four hours. This highlights the potential benefits of the policy shift.

This action is expected to expedite the advancement of commercial supersonic flight technologies. This includes the ongoing work being done by companies like Boom Supersonic.

Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 demonstrator achieved a milestone in January. It became the first privately developed civilian aircraft to surpass the sound barrier over the continental United States.

Industry Reaction

Blake Scholl, CEO of Boom Supersonic, responded enthusiastically to the news. He simply wrote “Booooom!” in an email to TechCrunch when asked for a statement.

Scholl further elaborated that the sound barrier was not a physical limitation, but rather a regulatory one. He believes that with the legalization of supersonic flight, the resurgence of supersonic passenger air travel is now imminent.

Further Aviation Initiatives

In addition to lifting the supersonic flight ban, President Trump signed two further executive orders focused on the future of aviation on Friday.

One order aims to accelerate the commercialization of drones and the development of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles.
Another establishes a federal task force to address restrictions related to drone flight.

These initiatives demonstrate a broader commitment to modernizing and advancing aviation technology within the United States.