It is said that supersonic passenger aircraft capable of speeds exceeding Mach 1 will revolutionize travel. Travel time between Tokyo and the U.S. will be cut from over 10 hours down to 6 hours. While supersonic passenger aircraft had disappeared from the market after the Concorde was retired, in recent years companies such as Boom Supersonic in the U.S. have emerged to develop supersonic passenger aircraft, and momentum is building for their revival.

Against this backdrop, on June 30, 2026, a major announcement regarding supersonic passenger aircraft was made. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initiated a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on noise standards for supersonic aircraft. Currently, commercial civil operations of supersonic aircraft are prohibited under 14 CFR Parts 91.817–819, except when a special flight authorization (SFA) is granted by the Administrator of the FAA on a flight-by-flight basis; however, this proposal would end this policy of general prohibition and establish conditions for conducting supersonic flights.

The proposal is based on Executive Order No. 14304 (hereinafter referred to as the “Executive Order”), issued on June 6, 2025, with the goal of “Leading the World in Supersonic Flight.” Together with the takeoff and landing noise standards to be proposed separately later this year, it aims to revive supersonic flight, unleash American innovation, and usher in a golden age of aviation.

This report outlines U.S. government policy regarding supersonic passenger aircraft.