Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act
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The bill would require the Federal Aviation Administration to let civil aircraft fly faster than the speed of sound over U.S. land without special permission, as long as no sonic boom reaches the ground, ending a decades-old blanket ban.
It would also require the FAA to set noise standards keeping supersonic aircraft's takeoff and landing noise in line with today's subsonic planes, opening a path for a new generation of commercial supersonic jets.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would require the FAA, within one year of enactment, to issue or revise regulations allowing civil aircraft to fly faster than Mach 1 in U.S. airspace without needing special authorization, provided the aircraft operates so that no sonic boom reaches the ground. This would replace the current rule requiring FAA special authorization for any overland supersonic flight. The bill would also require the FAA to issue a final rule by April 1, 2027, setting noise standards so that qualifying supersonic aircraft cannot exceed the takeoff and landing noise levels currently required for subsonic aircraft. The FAA would have to build into that rule a process for periodically reviewing and updating the noise standards as aircraft noise-reduction technology and regulations evolve. The bill does not itself certify any specific aircraft or guarantee sonic booms will never reach the ground.
Key provisions
- 1Would require the FAA to issue or revise regulations, within one year of enactment, allowing civil aircraft to fly above Mach 1 without special authorization if no sonic boom reaches the ground
- 2Would require the FAA to issue a final rule by April 1, 2027 setting noise standards so supersonic aircraft don't exceed current subsonic takeoff and landing noise levels
- 3Would require the FAA to build a process into that noise rule for periodically reviewing and updating standards as noise-reduction technology advances
Who would be affected
Supersonic aircraft manufacturers and airlines seeking to operate faster-than-sound flights over the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration, and communities near flight paths who could be affected by aircraft noise and any sonic boom risk.
Why it matters
If enacted, aircraft makers developing supersonic jets would gain a clear regulatory path to fly over U.S. land without special case-by-case FAA approval, potentially accelerating commercial supersonic travel. The FAA's noise rule would determine how loud these aircraft can be during takeoff and landing, directly shaping which designs can operate.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends Section 91.817 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (Sec. 2(a))
Would revise the regulation banning civil overland supersonic flight without special authorization to permit it when no sonic boom reaches the ground.
Creates Part 36 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (Sec. 2(b))
Would add noise standards limiting supersonic aircraft takeoff and landing noise to current subsonic aircraft levels.
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- FAA must issue or revise regulations allowing overland supersonic flight without special authorization
- FAA must issue a final rule establishing supersonic aircraft noise standards
Funding and costs
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates H.R. 3410 would cost $4 million over the 2026–2030 period in discretionary spending (funds requiring annual appropriations), with no effect on direct spending, revenues, or the deficit.
CBO estimates that implementing the Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act would require four full-time FAA employees per year at roughly $200,000 each, resulting in $4 million in spending subject to appropriation over the 2026–2030 period — about $1 million for rulemaking and $3 million for implementation and enforcement. The bill would have no effect on direct (mandatory) spending, revenues, or the federal deficit in any scoring window, including the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2036. CBO identified no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates in the bill.
How implementation would work
The FAA would have to draft and finalize two sets of regulations through its standard rulemaking process: one within a year allowing overland supersonic flight without special authorization (conditioned on avoiding ground-reaching sonic booms), and a noise rule by April 1, 2027 tying supersonic takeoff and landing noise limits to current subsonic standards. The noise rule must also include a built-in mechanism for the FAA to periodically revisit and update those standards as noise-reduction technology and other regulations change over time.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Official CRS summary
Show the CRS summaryHide the CRS summary
This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to allow civil aircraft to operate at speeds above Mach 1 (i.e., supersonic) over land in the United States under certain conditions.
Specifically, the FAA must issue or revise regulations to allow for the operation of civil aircraft at speeds greater than Mach 1 in the national airspace system without a special authorization, so long as no sonic boom reaches the ground in the United States.
The FAA must also issue a final rule to establish noise standards that prohibit civil aircraft operating at speeds greater than Mach 1 from exceeding takeoff and landing noise levels required for subsonic aircraft (i.e., aircraft that operate at speeds that do not exceed Mach 1). As part of the rule, the FAA must specify a process to periodically review and update the noise standards to reflect future advances in aircraft noise reduction technology and regulatory changes.
Current regulations prohibit civil aircraft from operating above Mach 1 speeds over land in the United States without a special flight authorization issued by the FAA.
Legislative subjects
Administrative law and regulatory procedures; Aviation and airports; Department of Transportation; Transportation and Public Works
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-550