Regulations and Government
FAA's Supersonic Proposal Draws Praise and Protest
The EU called the FAA's supersonic NPRM premature, while many manufacturers endorsed its data-driven approach.
An FAA proposed rule would for the first time establish subsonic landing and takeoff cycle noise standards for supersonic airplanes other than the Concorde, such as the Mach 1.4 Aerion AS2. (Photo: Aerion Supersonic)
An FAA proposed rule would for the first time establish subsonic landing and takeoff cycle noise standards for supersonic airplanes other than the Concorde, such as the Mach 1.4 Aerion AS2. (Photo: Aerion Supersonic)

The FAA’s notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to develop a certification pathway for supersonic aircraft has drawn a mixed bag of responses from industry, community, regulators, and environmentalists, with many offering strong support, others calling the effort premature, and still others expressing absolute opposition.