US lifts 50-year-ban on civilian supersonic flights over land, paving way for next-gen aircraft

The United States has lifted a ban on overland supersonic flight, paving the way for new aircraft like the Boom Overture to break the sound barrier over American soil, even with a sonic boom.

Initially, the ban was put into place after tests in the 1960s revealed residents would be hugely disturbed and alarmed by overland sonic booms.

This is what forced Concorde into making supersonic flights only across the Atlantic Ocean, or at least breaking the sound barrier over water.

With the new Boom Overture set to break the sound barrier without making a noise, the 50-year-old ban on civilian aircraft has been lifted.

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The original ban on overland supersonic flight was enacted in the 1970s by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

During that time, Concorde was banned from breaking the sound barrier until it was away from US soil.

The lifting of the ban comes as the Boom Supersonic company continues to develop the Overture airliner.

The company has already proven that an aircraft can break the sound barrier with minimal noise with its XB-1 prototype.

NASA is also researching this, with the X-59 quiet supersonic demonstrator doing similar work.

News of the ban being lifted could affect their work, however.

Although, it depends on what new rules the FAA comes up with.

Civilian aircraft may not need to have a quiet sonic boom after all.

The FAA is drafting new rules that include acceptable noise thresholds for any supersonic airliners.

It will take into consideration noise at takeoff and landing, and specific supersonic operation instructions.

Boom and NASA may be concerned that their efforts to create a silent Mach 1 aircraft have gone to waste.

However, the FAA may still require these new airliners to produce as little noise as possible.

Continuing to develop quiet supersonic aircraft will also create less aggravation for those on the ground.

One of the biggest reasons for the original ban coming into place was due to how much disturbance the boom could cause.

This was particularly evident after tests over Oklahoma City in the 1960s involving US Air Force fighters.

So, while in theory there could be no noise limitations, it is probably a good idea to pursue as quiet an aircraft as possible.

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