Budd, Nehls Introduce Legislation to Allow Flight of Supersonic Civil Aircraft
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Congressman Troy Nehls (R-Texas-22), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, introduced the Supersonic Aviation Modernization (SAM) Act, to require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator to issue regulations to legalize civil supersonic flight in the United States.
For the past fifty-two years, the United States has had a speed limit in the sky. The SAM Act would permit operators to fly aircraft at supersonic speeds within the National Airspace System if no sonic boom reaches the ground.
“The race for supersonic dominance between the U.S. and China is already underway and the stakes couldn’t be higher. To maintain our global leadership in aerospace innovation, we must modernize air travel by lifting the outdated ban on civil supersonic flight. The Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act paves the way to lift decades-old restrictions, allowing for faster air travel. This is a critical step to ensure America leads the next era of aviation,” said Senator Budd.
“The United States is home to many ground-breaking innovations and should welcome these innovations so long as public safety isn’t threatened. Our nation’s laws and regulations should encourage these innovations and uplift companies that are leading in industries, including the aviation industry. My legislation cuts regulatory red tape without minimizing safety, and incentivizes further innovation in the aviation industry, helping America remain competitive and the envy of the world,” said Congressman Nehls.
“Supersonic flight without an audible sonic boom should obviously be allowed. The ban on supersonic has held back progress for more than half a century. I urge Congress to pass the Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act supersonically, so we can all enjoy faster flights and maintain American leadership in aviation,” said Blake Scholl, Founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic.
“This commonsense legislation maintains safety while clearing the way for innovative technologies to flourish, enabling the United States to keep its competitive edge and remain the global leader in aviation. I commend Sen. Budd, a pilot and recognized aviation champion, for his smart solution to help advance what will be a revolutionary technology,” said Ed Bolen, President and CEO of the National Business Aviation Association.
Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) joined Senator Budd in introducing the bill.
Congresswoman Sharice Davids (D-Kan.-3) joined Congressman Nehls in introducing the bill in the House.
Read the full bill text HERE.
Background
14 CFR § 91.817, enacted in 1973, dictates that no person may operate a civil aircraft in the United States at a true flight Mach number greater than 1. This rule prohibits non-military related supersonic flight over the United States, setting an artificial speed limit in the national airspace.
American companies like Boom Supersonic, have developed quiet supersonic technologies and have already demonstrated that their aircraft can operate above Mach 1 without a sonic boom reaching the ground.
This is due to a well-known phenomenon called Mach cutoff, in which a sonic boom refracts in the atmosphere and never reaches the ground.
Despite these innovations, FAA regulations continue to restrict supersonic operations.
The SAM Act would provide a 12-month window for the FAA to re-examine the existing ban on supersonic flight.
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