Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act

Key Points

• Sen. Budd introduced a bill to change the rules for airplanes that fly faster than the speed of sound. Right now, these "supersonic" flights are generally banned over land in the U.S. because they create loud, disruptive noises called sonic booms.
• The bill gives the FAA one year to update its regulations. The goal is to let these fast planes fly across the country without needing special permission for every trip, which could eventually make travel between distant cities much faster for passengers.
• To protect people on the ground, the bill only allows these high speeds if the plane is designed or flown in a way that no sonic boom reaches the surface. This would force companies to use new technology that makes breaking the sound barrier much quieter.
• Supporters believe this will help the American aerospace industry lead the world in new technology. By opening up U.S. skies to quieter supersonic jets, the government hopes to encourage companies to build the next generation of super-fast commercial planes.

Impact Analysis

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