The Trump administration is ending a decades-old restriction on supersonic flight over U.S. land, replacing it with noise-based standards. The Federal Aviation Administration will allow aircraft to exceed Mach 1 if they stay below set noise thresholds, reversing a 1973 ban designed to prevent disruptive sonic booms.

The change follows an executive order directing the FAA to modernize regulations for faster civil aviation. Since 1973, the FAA prohibited civil aircraft from exceeding Mach 1 over land due to public complaints about loud booms breaking windows and damaging property. The agency aims to finalize both rules by mid-2027.

Boom Supersonic and other developers are racing to launch next-gen jets with quieter technology. The company has pre-orders from United Airlines, American Airlines, and Japan Airlines for its Overture jets, which will carry 60-80 passengers. These aircraft promise transatlantic flights in under four hours, reviving supersonic passenger travel for the first time since Concorde.