Elon Musk has voiced his support for revising Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations that prohibit supersonic flights over U.S. land due to concerns about disruptive sonic booms. His comments come in response to Boom Supersonic’s recent announcement that its Overture airliner can exceed Mach 1 without generating an audible sonic boom at ground level, reports Simple Flying.
Boom Supersonic utilizes a technique known as “Boomless Cruise,” which takes advantage of the Mach cutoff phenomenon. At high altitudes, sound waves refract in the atmosphere, preventing them from reaching the ground. In response to Boom Supersonic CEO Blake Scholl’s explanation of this technology, Musk commented on X (formerly Twitter), “This administration will get rid of all regulations that make no sense, like this one.”
Currently, FAA regulation 14 CFR 91.817 bans civil aircraft from flying faster than Mach 1 over U.S. territory. This rule historically limited supersonic commercial flights, such as the Concorde, to overwater routes to avoid noise disturbances. However, Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 prototype recently demonstrated supersonic flight at Mach 1.12 over the Mojave Desert without producing a detectable sonic boom, potentially paving the way for regulatory changes.
According to Simple Flying, Musk’s support aligns with his broader stance against regulatory hurdles that slow technological advancements. As the founder of SpaceX, he has previously criticized FAA policies, arguing that excessive regulation hinders progress. His backing of supersonic travel could accelerate discussions about updating long-standing flight restrictions.
