Trump rescinds ban on sonic aircraft flights across land territory

A Wild Ride through the Skies Ahead: Trump's Supreme Aviation Shift

On June 6, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order, flipping the script on America's aviation policies. This move overturned a 47-year-old regulation that prohibited supersonic commercial flights above the United States' landmass—a rule, steeped in noise-related concerns, first introduced in 1973.

Nascent technology in supersonic aircraft now makes it possible for planes to surpass the speed of sound without generating a thunderous sonic boom on the ground, a factor that led to public discontent in the past. The White House expressed their views in the order's summary, stating, "for half a century, outdated regulations have kept supersonic flight grounded, stifling American innovation and eroding our superiority in global aviation."

Boom Supersonic, a Colorado-based company, has been leading the charge to resurrect supersonic commercial travel. To meet noise certification standards, they've opted to eliminate the noisy afterburners and replace them with a custom-designed turbofan engine, promising to meet current aviation noise regulations. With the repeal of the supersonic travel directive, it seems that a supersonic revolution is no longer avoidable.

In addition to loosening restrictions on supersonic flights, Trump also signed two other orders prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to expedite the introduction of drone regulations allowing companies to operate drones beyond their line of sight while introducing measures to safeguard against terrorism, espionage, and threats to public safety.

According to Michael Kratsios, the assistant to the President and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, "Americans should be able to fly from New York to LA in under four hours." The new regulations now make that dream achievable for companies like Boom Supersonic, bypassing the need for detours over oceanic paths.

This executive order is poised to spark a new chapter in U.S. aviation, with implications for industries, travel times, and the environment. While the shift promises faster coast-to-coast travel and commercial opportunities, the industry will have to navigate technological and regulatory challenges to create a sonic boom-free, socially acceptable, and economically feasible supersonic travel experience.

The eco-friendly technology in supersonic aircraft might revolutionize the aerospace industry, allowing companies like Boom Supersonic to offer eco-friendly supersonic flights that meet current aviation noise regulations.
The finance sector could see significant changes due to the supersonic flight revolution, as shorter travel times could reduce costs and stimulate tourism in the industry.
The supreme aviation shift, as led by President Trump's executive order, also demands the application of advanced technology to ensure sonic boom-free, socially acceptable, and economically feasible supersonic travel experiences in the realm of commercial aviation.