Why is supersonic flight banned in the US?

Fifty years ago, the federal government banned all civilian supersonic flights over land. The rule prohibits non-military aircraft from flying faster than sound so their resulting sonic booms won't startle the public below or concern them about potential property damage.



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Within a few years, the FAA formally proposed a rule to restrict the operation of civil aircraft at speeds greater than Mach 1. In 1971, Congress officially canceled the SST program. The ban on civilian supersonic flights over land went into effect in 1973, and the ban remains in effect today.

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And the jet pilots don't feel a sonic boom from the cockpit, just as passengers on a boat don't feel the effects of the wake behind them, she added.

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In any case, supersonic air travel for the masses looks like it's genuinely back on the cards. Boom is aiming for the first Overture test flights to take off in 2026 and for the planes to go into public service by 2029.

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It's performative and the pilot can't hear you anyway! Whether you love to clap or not, know that the pilots likely can't hear you. This is due to the soundproof-nature of the cockpit.

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