Aerion, Boom urge DoT to revise proposed supersonic standards

The leading US developers of supersonic aircraft called on the DoT Aug 27 to modify its proposed rule on supersonic flight authorisations, arguing the proposal’s wording amounts to an effective prohibition on all supersonic flight. The comments came in response to DoT’s June 28 notice of proposed rulemaking to streamline the application process for supersonic flight authorisations. The rulemaking will not constitute a repeal of the current prohibition on overland flights in excess of Mach 1, although FAA will reserve the authority to approve supersonic operations on an individual basis. Aerion wrote that the rulemaking’s requirement that test flights cause “no measurable sonic boom overpressure to reach the surface … would effectively create a ban on all supersonic flight.” <br/>