A (Federal Aviation Administration), the United States aviation regulatory agency, on Tuesday (June 30, 2026), a proposed regulatory change that could end the ban on supersonic commercial flights over the North American continental territory, which has been in force since 1973.
The decision establishes a standard for noise from these aircraft in flight and responds to a of the president (Republican Party), which called for the removal of restrictions.
Supersonic flights travel at speeds greater than the speed of sound (around 1,235 km/h at sea level), which can generate booms capable of breaking objects, such as glass and crockery, in nearby areas.
The agency argues that technological advances have made the ban obsolete. In a statement, Transport Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the new technology makes flights safer for those who live in areas overflown.
The FAA signaled that later this year it intends to propose a 2nd rule, this time to establish noise standards for takeoffs and landings of supersonic aircraft.
The objective is to provide guidance to private industry so that manufacturers can finalize projects compatible with flights over North American territory.
SPEED AND TIME
The main benefit is faster travel. The Concorde supersonic commercial plane, which operated between 1976 and 2003, covered the route from London to New York in about 3 hours, according to .
This was possible because the route was mostly over the Atlantic Ocean, which minimized the effect of noise on human beings.
Duffy argues that ending the ban brings other gains besides speed. For him, the measure is capable of “Unleash American Innovation and Usher in a Golden Age of Travel”.
EYE AIRLINES
Among the companies awaiting this regulatory opening is , from the State of Colorado. The company develops the Overture commercial aircraft, with capacity for 60 to 80 passengers and supersonic speed without sonic boom.
In 2022, American Airlines for US$200 million each. The aircraft are expected to reach twice the speed of today’s fastest commercial jets.
The main technology that allows noise to be eliminated is called “Mach cutting”. Aircraft are designed to utilize atmospheric conditions, speed and altitude to bend the sonic boom and refract it back into the atmosphere. This minimizes the impact on the soil.
The FAA announced that it is working with the US space agency, NASA, the International Civil Aviation Organization, industry and academic institutions to support supersonic noise standards.
