President Donald Trump signed an executive order on June 6, directing the Federal Aviation Administration to lift the 52-year ban on civilian supersonic flights over U.S. soil, aiming to position the United States as a global leader in high-speed aviation.
The order targets the repeal of 14 CFR 91.817, in place since 1973, and mandates new noise-based certification standards within 180 days. This move is set to bolster American companies like Boom Supersonic, which is developing its Overture airliner and has secured 130 orders from United, American, and Japan Airlines.
With Boom’s Overture Superfactory in Greensboro, North Carolina, backed by $130 million in state incentives and promising 1,750 jobs by 2030, the policy could drive a $6.6 billion annual economic impact by 2035, enhancing U.S. competitiveness against China’s Comac C949 supersonic jet.
Economic Boost from Supersonic Innovation
The executive order has the potential to stimulate substantial economic growth by reinvigorating the U.S. aviation industry. Boom Supersonic’s Overture Superfactory, under construction since January 2024, is expected to generate 1,750 direct jobs and 3,200 indirect jobs in North Carolina, with an average salary of $68,000. The facility, designed to produce 33 Overture aircraft annually by 2030, has already attracted $500 million in private investment.
Industry analysts project that supersonic travel could contribute $6.6 billion annually to the U.S. economy by 2035, driven by reduced travel times and increased demand for high-speed routes like New York to Los Angeles, which Overture aims to cut to under four hours. This economic surge aligns with Trump’s broader deregulation agenda, which has repealed 12 regulations for every new one since January 2025.
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Global Competitiveness and Industry Support
Trump’s order strengthens the U.S. position in the global supersonic race, particularly against China’s Comac C949, which completed its first Mach 2 test flight in March 2025.
Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 demonstrator, which achieved Mach 1.122 on January 28, 2025, at Mojave Air & Space Port, proved the viability of quiet supersonic flight, producing no audible sonic booms at ground level.
This breakthrough, coupled with orders from major airlines, including United’s 15-jet commitment valued at $3 billion, signals strong industry confidence.
The FAA’s new noise-based standards, supported by the Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act, aim to align with International Civil Aviation Organization guidelines finalized in April 2025, potentially opening international routes.
However, environmental concerns, with supersonic jets consuming 30% more fuel than subsonic airliners, pose challenges to widespread adoption.
Did You Know?
Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 is the first independently developed civilian jet to break the sound barrier, achieving Mach 1.122 on January 28, 2025, in California.
Challenges and Future Prospects
While the executive order promises economic and technological advancements, hurdles remain. The Overture’s type certification, targeted for 2029, depends on the FAA’s ability to implement noise-based standards without disrupting communities, a concern raised by the International Council on Clean Transportation, which estimates demand for 240 fuel-intensive jets by 2040.
Boom’s Boomless Cruise mode, leveraging the Mach cutoff phenomenon, mitigates sonic boom issues, but sustainable aviation fuel adoption, currently at 0.2% of global supply, is critical. The order also faces political pushback, with 20 Democratic senators opposing deregulation due to environmental impacts.
Nonetheless, Boom’s operations have already generated $1.2 billion in annual economic activity, and if executed effectively, the policy could redefine U.S. aviation and job markets.
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