FAA proposes rule to lift 1973 overland supersonic ban

U.S. aviation regulators have taken a major step toward allowing civilian aircraft to fly faster than sound over land for the first time in more than five decades. The Federal Aviation Administration announced a proposed rule on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, that would replace a 1973 prohibition on overland supersonic flight with a new, noise-based certification standard.

The rule would permit aircraft to exceed Mach 1-the speed of sound, approximately 767 miles per hour-over the continental United States provided the noise generated stays below a designated limit. The FAA also plans to propose a separate rule later this year establishing landing and takeoff noise standards for supersonic aircraft, with both regulations targeted for finalization by mid-2027.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stated that technological advances in aerospace engineering, materials science, and noise reduction now allow for the elimination of the disruptive sonic booms that prompted the original ban. "This means we can ultimately repeal the ban from the 1970s on supersonic flight over U.S. territory while minimizing noise impacts to residents in communities along the route and near airports," Bedford said.