Key Takeaways
• SAM bill requires FAA to allow supersonic flights over land if no sonic boom is detectable on the ground.
• Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 became the first civil jet to break Mach 1 over U.S. land in January 2025.
• New technology, like Boomless Cruise, aims to enable silent supersonic travel and reignite innovation in U.S. aviation.
For more than fifty years, the United States 🇺🇸 has banned civil airplanes from breaking the sound barrier when flying over land. This rule, put in place in 1973 under FAA regulation 14 CFR § 91.817, was meant to protect people and buildings from the loud booming noise, called a sonic boom, that happens when a plane goes faster than the speed of sound. Today, new hopes have risen that this rule might be changed. Companies like Boom Supersonic and several U.S. lawmakers are leading efforts to bring back fast supersonic passenger travel across the country, but with technology that keeps the noise problem under control.
Push to Lift the Ban: The Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act
On May 14, 2025, a major step was taken. Senator Ted Budd from North Carolina and Representative Troy Nehls from Texas introduced a new bill called the Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act, or SAM for short. This bill is important for several reasons:
- It tells the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) to write new rules, or change its old ones, within one year. These rules must allow civil airplanes to fly at speeds of Mach 1 or faster over land. Mach 1 is the speed of sound.
- SAM says these flights would only be allowed if no sonic boom from the airplane can be heard or felt on the ground.
- The law would remove the need for special approval from the FAA for each supersonic flight that meets these rules.
The bill has support from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers. Other sponsors include Senators Thom Tillis (North Carolina), Mike Lee (Utah), Tim Sheehy (Montana), and Representative Sharice Davids (Kansas). The bipartisan support shows that people from different political sides agree this rule needs another look.
Lawmakers and supporters argue that the old rules now hold back important progress in airplane technology. They also warn that if the United States 🇺🇸 does not move forward on supersonic flight, it could fall behind countries like China 🇨🇳, who are also working hard to build fast new planes.
Why the Ban Happened and Why Change Is on the Table
To understand why this matters, it helps to know about the problems that happened with old supersonic planes. The Concorde, a famous supersonic jet, used to fly between Europe and the United States 🇺🇸. But on land, the loud “boom” it made was so bothersome that the plane was not allowed to break the sound barrier except over the ocean. The boom could rattle windows and make people uncomfortable or even scared.
With the ban in place since the 1970s, no civil company or airline has been allowed to run supersonic flights over U.S. land. This stopped airplane makers from working on new designs that could go faster than sound without causing problems for people on the ground.
Today, technology has moved ahead. New ideas and inventions mean it may now be possible to create planes that are fast but do not make booms you can hear or feel on the ground. Advocates for change, like those who back the Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act, believe the old rules are “outdated and stifle innovation.” They say it’s time for a new look.
Boom Supersonic: At the Center of the Debate
At the heart of this debate is Boom Supersonic, a company based in Colorado. Boom is working to build a new kind of passenger airplane that can fly faster than sound. The company’s CEO, Blake Scholl, is one of the loudest voices asking Congress to pass the new law. He believes it does not make sense to keep a blanket ban in place today. Scholl said, “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 new bill.
Boom Supersonic has already shown real progress in this area:
- In January 2025, Boom’s test plane, the XB-1 demonstrator, became the first civil airplane designed and built by a private company to break the sound barrier over the continental United States 🇺🇸.
- The company has been allowed by the FAA to test its supersonic plane in California under a special permit. These test flights are closely watched to make sure they are safe and follow noise rules.
- Boom is building an all-new, faster-than-sound passenger jet called Overture, which they hope will be carrying people by the end of this decade.
Boom’s push for change does not just come from business goals. As Scholl and the company see it, the decades-old ban has frozen progress and limited what American engineers and businesses can do. As reported by VisaVerge.com, supporters of the company’s goals say new supersonic planes could connect far-apart cities in half the time it takes today.
The Promise of “Boomless Cruise” Technology
One of Boom Supersonic’s strongest arguments for why the ban can now be lifted safely is a technology called “Boomless Cruise.” The company says this feature is possible because of something called “Mach cutoff.” In simple terms, it is a way to fly so that the shock waves — which normally make the loud sonic boom — never reach the ground. Instead, these shock waves bend upward into the sky and disappear.
Here’s how “Boomless Cruise” works in plain words:
- When a supersonic plane is high enough and goes at the right speed, and if the weather and air conditions are right, the noise from breaking the sound barrier does not travel all the way down to people on the ground.
- This effect depends on things like how warm or cold the air is, how thick it is, and other weather conditions that can change every day.
- Boom says that the Overture jet, using “Boomless Cruise,” will be able to fly over land faster than sound while staying quiet enough so that nobody below can hear the boom.
But there’s an important detail: Boom has also admitted that their first version of the Overture jet is not built to be a true “low-boom” airplane yet, and the company does not expect to get approval for just any kind of supersonic flight over land at first. They know there are still hurdles to clear before these flights become common.
Challenges, Concerns, and the Path Forward
Even with all the optimism around Boomless Cruise and new legislation, not everyone agrees on what should happen next. Some people are worried about whether the technology really works as promised every time, given how much depends on changing weather and flying conditions. Others are concerned about safety, the real impact on noise, and whether the U.S. 🇺🇸 should be the first to make such a big change in policy.
Still, the introduction of the Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act is the most serious attempt in many years to update policies about supersonic travel. The bill’s supporters say:
- Old rules are no longer needed because new technology has finally caught up.
- Letting civil planes fly at very high speeds could bring more jobs and help the United States 🇺🇸 keep its lead in airplane design.
- If the ban is not changed now, other countries like China 🇨🇳 may get ahead and become leaders in building and selling supersonic jets.
On the other hand, people who want more study suggest moving slowly, so the risks can be fully understood before big changes are made.
What Would Change for Immigrants, Workers, and Travelers?
If the ban is lifted and supersonic flight becomes common again in the United States 🇺🇸, the impact could reach many people. Here’s what could happen:
- Travelers: People could get across the country in half the time. For some international flights, connections could become much easier and faster.
- Airlines: Big airline companies might rush to add new supersonic jets to their fleets, changing the way ticket prices, schedules, and even airport planning work.
- Jobs: New airplane factories, research centers, and service jobs could pop up as more companies get involved in building and running supersonic fleets.
- Engineers and Students: The change could mean new learning and job opportunities for students and workers interested in technology and science.
- Immigrants and International Workers: If the U.S. 🇺🇸 becomes a leader in this field, it might bring in more workers, engineers, and experts from around the world to help build, support, and operate these new planes.
There are also possible challenges. Rules about work visas, pilot training, and airplane safety might have to change. International airlines and airplane makers from other countries could compete, offering similar speeds but using different standards or rules. The U.S. 🇺🇸 government and businesses would have to work together to update regulations in many areas.
What’s Next? The Road Ahead for Supersonic Flight
It’s not certain yet if the Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act will become law. Congress still must debate, amend, and vote on the bill. The FAA will also have to decide how it will check and approve new designs, especially when it comes to the promise that “no boom reaches the ground.” Airplane makers will have to show in real-world tests that their planes are as quiet as they claim.
Supporters like Boom Supersonic say the first step is to drop the blanket ban so that real testing, building, and improvements can move forward. If passed, the law would not remove every noise rule, but would make it easier for new jets like Overture to be tested and, eventually, to carry passengers at great speed across the country.
For people who want to know more about how these changes could affect airplane safety, pilot training, and other rules, the FAA’s official supersonic policy page gives details about the latest studies, public hearings, and next steps in the lawmaking process.
Summary
For more than five decades, the United States 🇺🇸 has said “no” to supersonic flight over land to shield people and buildings from noise. Now, with rising interest from companies like Boom Supersonic, and with new ideas like “Boomless Cruise” that promise to keep things quiet, the future could soon change. The Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act is a key part of this fresh debate.
Many want to see progress, arguing that it will help American workers, businesses, and travelers, while also keeping the country ahead in the technology race. Others want to be sure safety and noise are managed carefully. Either way, more discussion is certain before any final decision is made.
Everyone, from lawmakers to companies to everyday travelers, will be watching closely to see if the promise of safe and quiet supersonic flight over the United States 🇺🇸 moves from dream to reality. And, as Boom Supersonic and others keep working, the rules that have shaped the skies for the last half-century may soon be rewritten.
Learn Today
Sonic Boom → A loud, explosive sound caused when an aircraft travels faster than the speed of sound, creating shock waves.
Mach 1 → The speed of sound in air, approximately 767 miles per hour at sea level, used as a benchmark for supersonic travel.
14 CFR § 91.817 → FAA regulation established in 1973 banning civil supersonic flight over land within the United States.
Boomless Cruise → A flight technique where supersonic aircraft are operated so that shockwaves never reach the ground, preventing heard sonic booms.
Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act (SAM) → A 2025 U.S. bill aiming to allow civil supersonic flights over land if they do not produce audible booms.
This Article in a Nutshell
After fifty years of silence, U.S. lawmakers seek to lift the supersonic flight ban over land. Boom Supersonic leads with new “Boomless Cruise” technology promising quiet, fast travel. If legislation passes, American aviation could advance, impacting jobs, immigration, and travel, while ensuring safety and minimal noise for communities.
— By VisaVerge.com
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