Important Points To Know

• Push to Lift Supersonic Ban: Boom Supersonic is actively appealing for the U.S. to overturn the 1973 ban on overland civilian supersonic flights.
• “Boomless Cruise” Technology: Boom claims its ‘Overture’ airliner will feature technology that prevents sonic booms from reaching the ground, even during supersonic overland flight, relying on “Mach cutoff.”
• Successful XB-1 Demonstrations: Boom’s XB-1 test aircraft has reportedly broken the sound barrier multiple times in overland tests this year without audible ground booms, providing evidence for their noise mitigation claims.
• Goals of Lifting the Ban: Repealing the ban would enable faster transcontinental flights, advance U.S. innovation in aviation, and help America maintain a competitive edge in the development of supersonic travel.

Boom Supersonic, developer of the ‘Overture’ supersonic airliner concept, is advocating for the repeal of a 50-year-old U.S. ban on overland commercial supersonic flights. This ban, enacted in 1973 due to noise concerns from sonic booms, significantly impacted earlier supersonic jets like the Concorde, which had to fly subsonically over U.S. land.

Boom argues that its new technology allows for “boomless cruises,” where aircraft can fly faster than the speed of sound without the disruptive sonic booms reaching the ground. The company states that its design utilizes a principle called “Mach cutoff,” causing the shockwaves to dissipate before hitting the surface. This claim is supported by recent test flights of its XB-1 demonstrator aircraft, which reportedly broke the sound barrier six times overland earlier this year with no audible sonic booms detected on the ground.

By lifting the ban, Boom Supersonic believes it can significantly speed up transcontinental flights within the U.S., fostering American innovation and re-establishing U.S. leadership in supersonic aviation. The company emphasizes that this move would make supersonic travel “the norm, not the exception.” Their appeal has garnered support from various U.S. senators who are key aviation policy lawmakers. Boom asserts that repealing the ban is crucial for maintaining America’s competitive edge in the resurgent global race for supersonic flight. The company is confident that once regulatory hurdles are cleared, it can deliver on the promise of quieter, faster overland air travel.