Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act

Key Points

• This bill, the Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act, aims to bring back high-speed commercial flights that travel faster than the speed of sound. For decades, these flights have been mostly banned over land because they create loud "sonic booms" that can rattle windows and disturb neighborhoods.
• To solve the noise problem, the bill allows these fast planes only if they are built so that no sonic boom actually reaches the ground. New technology is being developed to make these booms much quieter, and this law would allow those advanced planes to finally fly across the U.S. instead of just over the ocean.
• The FAA would also have to create strict rules for airport noise. The bill requires that these supersonic jets be no louder than regular planes during takeoff and landing, ensuring that people living near airports aren't hit with extra noise compared to what they hear today.
• If this bill becomes law, the FAA would have one year to set the new rules. This could pave the way for a new generation of planes that could eventually cut a flight from New York to Los Angeles down to just a few hours, making long-distance travel much faster for passengers.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.