Supersonic air travel gets green light in U.S. after 50-year ban lifted

President Trump signed executive orders on Friday to promote high-speed aviation in the US. The orders aim to repeal the 1973 ban on supersonic flight and instruct the FAA to remove regulatory barriers. The ban was introduced due to noise complaints from supersonic flights, but new technology has been developed to reduce the noise. NASA has been working on a "low-boom" supersonic jet, and a private company, Boom Supersonic, has also conducted a test flight of a quieter supersonic aircraft. The White House believes that outdated regulations have stifled American ingenuity and weakened global competitiveness in aviation. The executive orders also address drone development and defense against unauthorized drones, which pose safety concerns for critical infrastructure and large-scale events like the 2028 Summer Olympics. The orders follow proposed legislation introduced in Congress last month that would allow supersonic civil aircraft to fly as long as no sonic boom reaches the ground in the US. The goal is to establish the US as the undisputed leader in high-speed aviation. The FAA will create a noise certification standard that accounts for community acceptability, economic reasonableness, and technological feasibility. The executive orders are expected to boost domestic commercial drone development and bolster US defenses against unauthorized drones.