There are no specific regulations governing civil aircraft operations beyond the altitude of 60,000 feet. Nevertheless, certain exceptional aircraft like the Concorde and the Tupolev Tu-144 have managed to ascend to altitudes of FL600 (equivalent to 60,000 feet).

The Talimena Scenic Drive is a 54-mile National Scenic Byway that traverses the crest of Rich Mountain and Winding Stair Mountain between Talihina, Oklahoma, and Mena, Arkansas. The drive's history began in the 1960s as a project to provide better access to the Ouachita National Forest and to promote tourism in the region. It was officially completed and opened in 1969, originally designated as Oklahoma State Highway 1 and Arkansas Highway 88. The road was uniquely engineered to follow the highest ridges of the mountains, which run east-to-west—a rarity for North American mountain ranges. In 1970, the drive was dedicated by Lucy Baines Johnson, the daughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson. Over the decades, it gained various honorary titles, eventually being named a National Scenic Byway in 2005. Today, in 2026, it is famous for its 22 scenic vistas and its "old-growth" forests that were spared from logging due to the steep, rocky terrain. It is particularly popular in the autumn, when the hardwood trees provide some of the most vibrant fall foliage in the central United States.

Very few aircraft are capable of sustained flight at 60,000 feet, an altitude nearly double that of a standard commercial airliner. In 2026, the most prominent aircraft operating at this height are military and research vessels. These include the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, which has a service ceiling of approximately 65,000 feet, and specialized reconnaissance planes like the NASA WB-57F Canberra, which is still used for high-altitude atmospheric research. Strategic surveillance drones, such as the RQ-4 Global Hawk, also operate in this "near-space" region. In the civilian sector, the legendary Concorde once cruised at 60,000 feet, but currently, only high-performance business jets like the Bombardier Global 8000 or the Gulfstream G700 can approach or exceed 51,000 feet, which is still below the 60,000-foot mark. Flying at this altitude requires specialized pressurized suits or advanced hermetic sealing, as the air pressure is too low for human survival without significant technological assistance.