S. 1759: Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act

This bill, titled the Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act, aims to facilitate the operation of civil supersonic flights within the United States. Here’s a breakdown of what the bill proposes:

Key Provisions

• Regulations Update: Within one year of the bill becoming law, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is required to create or amend regulations that would permit civil aircraft to fly at speeds greater than Mach 1 (the speed of sound) without needing special permission. This is a significant change from current regulations, which often restrict such flights due to concerns over sonic booms.
• Sonic Boom Management: The legislation emphasizes that supersonic aircraft must operate in a way that prevents sonic booms from reaching the ground in the United States. This means that the FAA will need to establish guidelines to ensure that flights do not produce disruptive sonic booms, which can occur when an aircraft exceeds the speed of sound.

Overall Objectives

The overall objective of the bill is to modernize aviation regulations to accommodate advancements in supersonic flight technology, which could encourage innovation in the aviation sector and potentially enhance travel options by reducing flight times.

Impact Timeline

If enacted, the FAA has a one-year timeline to implement these regulatory changes, suggesting a push towards quicker adoption of this technology in commercial aviation systems.

Relevant Companies

• BA (Boeing) - Boeing is involved in aerospace and defense and may seek to develop or adapt aircraft for supersonic travel, potentially benefiting from a market with few regulatory restrictions.
• GS (Gulfstream Aerospace) - Gulfstream, a subsidiary of General Dynamics, designs and manufactures business jets that could be impacted positively by the ability to operate supersonic flights.
• RTX (Raytheon Technologies) - Raytheon is involved in providing technology and components for aviation and may benefit from increased demand for new supersonic aircraft technologies.