Trump Executive Order Lifts Ban On Supersonic Flights Over USA
As US companies work on a next-generation of jets that exceed the speed of sound, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order lifting the ban on supersonic flights over United States land.
Trump Lifts Ban On Supersonic Flights Over USA Via Executive Order
The Executive Order, signed by Trump in the Oval Office on June 6, 2025, orders the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to lift the ban on supersonic travel within 180 days:
“The United States stands at the threshold of a bold new chapter in aerospace innovation. For more than 50 years, outdated and overly restrictive regulations have grounded the promise of supersonic flight over land, stifling American ingenuity, weakening our global competitiveness, and ceding leadership to foreign adversaries. Advances in aerospace engineering, materials science, and noise reduction now make supersonic flight not just possible, but safe, sustainable, and commercially viable. This order begins a historic national effort to reestablish the United States as the undisputed leader in high-speed aviation. By updating obsolete standards and embracing the technologies of today and tomorrow, we will empower our engineers, entrepreneurs, and visionaries to deliver the next generation of air travel, which will be faster, quieter, safer, and more efficient than ever before.”
While One Mile At A Time rightly notes that there were noise and property damage concerns that played a part in the original 1973 ban, there was more going on.
The battle between Boeing, Lockheed, and a joint effort of Aérospatiale (formerly Sud Aviation) of France and the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) to develop supersonic commercial transport was fierce. Concorde was a European project, a direct challenge to the US dominance in commercial aviation at the time. While environmental activists and homeowners decried the sonic booms, politicians were upset that the supersonic project at Boeing (2707) and Lockheed (L-2000) failed. Rising fuel prices hurt Concorde, but kept any American equivalent from ever taking off. Ultimately, politics played a big role in the 1973 ban.
This time, there are political concerns as well. As China develops its own supersonic aircraft, the C949, there is a “race” for the US to finish first. This policy change, which was also in the works by Congressional Republicans, seeks to clear regulatory hurdles to promote such transit.
Will We See A Return To Supersonic Travel?
I’m not as bearish as One Mile At A Time on the future of commercial supersonic travel. To be certain, the timelines provided by Boom Supersonic are laughably optimistic…it will take many, many years before a new aircraft type is properly tested and certified. But I think there is a market for it and as I deal with the rich and famous in my consulting work, including the jetsetters that travel between homes in New York and London, I am certain there would be strong demand for this kind of service and many would pay a huge premium for it.
> Read More: Concorde 2.0? Boom Supersonic XB-1 Jet Breaks Sound Barrier During California Test Flight
CONCLUSION
President Trump’s latest executive order lifts the ban on supersonic travel over US land, while calling on the FAA to establish sound protocols to reduce the disturbance of sonic booms when an aircraft hits the sound barrier.
Growing up in Southern California, I distinctly remember the sonic booms when the Space Shuttle would return to Earth and land at Edwards Air Force Base. What a sound! I realize that most won’t share my excitement for noise pollution, but I am quite hopeful that we will see a new generation of supersonic jets in my lifetime. We’ll see how all of this plays out…