Overview
- The House, which approved H.R. 3410 by voice vote Tuesday, directed the FAA to craft rules that allow faster‑than‑sound travel over land only when no sonic boom reaches the ground.
- The bill gives the FAA one year to issue or revise regulations and sets an April 1, 2027 deadline for final noise limits that match current subsonic takeoff and landing standards.
- The measure still needs Senate approval, so current FAA rules remain in place and the next step would be a formal FAA rulemaking on boom, noise, and certification.
- Backers including Rep. Troy Nehls, Boom Supersonic, and the National Business Aviation Association say the policy would help U.S. competitiveness, with outlets highlighting both industry support and the push to act on recent executive guidance.
- NASA’s X‑59 low‑boom research jet is gathering data to inform these standards, and a March 20 flight ended early after a warning but landed safely as testing continued to show how reshaping shock waves can dull a boom into a softer thump.