S. 1759 · In committee · Transportation and Public Works

Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act

Sponsor: Ted Budd (R-NC)

What it does

• Direct the FAA to issue or revise regulations allowing civil aircraft to operate at speeds greater than Mach 1 (supersonic) in the U.S. national airspace system without special authorization if no sonic boom reaches the
• Remove the current blanket prohibition on civil supersonic flight over U.S. land, replacing it with a performance-based standard tied to sonic boom containment.
• Establish a regulatory pathway for supersonic civil aviation by requiring FAA rule-making rather than case-by-case special flight authorizations.

Official summary

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.

Latest action

Jul 22, 2026: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation