Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act

Ted Budd

Republican · NC · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Mike Lee (R-UT)Original· 2025-05-14
• Thom Tillis (R-NC)Original· 2025-05-14
• Tim Sheehy (R-MT)Original· 2025-05-14
• John W. Hickenlooper (D-CO)· 2026-07-13
• Michael F. Bennet (D-CO)· 2026-07-21

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

2026-07-22

Source: Congress.gov

Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to allow civil aircraft to operate at speeds above Mach 1 (i.e., supersonic) over land in the United States under certain conditions. Specifically, the FAA must issue or revise regulations to allow for the operation of civil aircraft at speeds greater than Mach 1 in the national airspace system without a special authorization, so long as no sonic boom reaches the ground in the United States. Current regulations prohibit civil aircraft from operating above Mach 1 speeds over land in the United States without a special flight authorization issued by the FAA.

Plain-English rewrite of the Congressional Research Service summary published on Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 1759 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1759 To allow for the operation of civil supersonic flight in the national airspace system under certain conditions, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 14, 2025 Mr. Budd (for himself, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Lee, and Mr. Sheehy) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To allow for the operation of civil supersonic flight in the national airspace system under certain conditions, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act''. SEC. 2. ALLOWING FOR THE OPERATION OF CIVIL SUPERSONIC FLIGHT. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall issue or revise such regulations, such as section 91.817 of part 14, Code of Federal Regulations, as are necessary to allow for the operation of civil aircraft (as defined in section 40102(16) of title 49, United States Code) without special authorization within the national airspace system at a Mach number greater than 1 so long as the aircraft is operated in such a manner that no sonic boom reaches the ground in the United States. <all>

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