U.S. lawmakers introduced Wednesday the Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act in a bid to revise the FAA’s 52-year ban on supersonic flight over U.S. soil. The bipartisan legislation — introduced by Senator Ted Budd (R-NC), Aviation Subcommittee Chair Troy Nehls (R-TX), and Representative Sharice Davids (D-KS) — would allow supersonic travel, provided no audible sonic boom reaches the ground.
Dubbed the “Boom” bill, the move comes as Colorado-based Boom Supersonic makes progress in developing next-generation supersonic aircraft. Boom’s XB-1 demonstrator aircraft made history in January when it became the first privately developed civil aircraft to break the sound barrier over the continental United States.
North Carolina has an interest in the bill’s passage. Boom completed a supersonic airline factory in Greensboro roughly a year ago, after receiving more than $100 million in state incentives in 2022. In exchange, Boom promised to create more than 1,700 jobs by 2030. Texas has an interest, too: Boom is making the engine that powers its Overture supersonic airline in San Antonio in partnership with the aerospace company StandardAero.
