![]()
Boom Supersonic has been granted Special Flight Authorization by the FAA to operate at supersonic speeds for flight testing.
All civil aircraft flights are prohibited from operating above Mach one speeds over the U.S. but the FAA granted a SFA to Boom to flight test its supersonic capable aircraft. This issuance, under 14 CFR § 91. 818, is a major federal action under the National Environmental Policy Act. As a result, the FAA must conduct a thorough environmental review of the SFA issuance in compliance with NEPA and environmental laws and requirements.
On March 24 Boom petitioned the FAA to allow the company to operate a civil aircraft that would exceed Mach 1 speeds during flight testing. If the SFA is granted, Boom would conduct limited and conditional flight operations exceeding Mach 1. Under 14 CFR part 91, Subpart I- Operating Noise Limits, civil aircraft are prohibited from creating a sonic boom by exceeding Mach 1 in 14 CFR § 91.817. This regulation dictates that Mach 1 may only be exceeded in the U.S. when done under a SFA. The FAA must take into account the effect of the sonic boom noise on the quality of the human environment affected during the operation. Boom is requesting to perform flight testing in its Model XB-1 experimental aircraft with chase airplanes over Edwards Air Force Base. The company requested authorization for up to 20 supersonic flight tests over one year, which would occur at or above 30,000 ft mean sea level.
A notice concerning the Environmental Assessment in support of this petition was published in the Federal Register on Jan. 12 and no comments were received. Boom was petitioning to test the XB-1 supersonically to demonstrate that it is safe and complies with airworthiness requirements. The XB-1 testing would also provide data to validate and strengthen other models and help to develop technologies and tools to boost the development of a mature and safe design for the company's full-size supersonic airliner, the Overture. The flight testing would also provide data on previously untested and uncertified new technology. Boom felt that the XB-1 demonstrator would have little cumulative noise effect on the environment and the FAA's Finding of No Significant Impact signed Feb. 29 supports the agency's determination that the proposed number of flights would not create a major Federal Action that would significantly impact the quality of the human environment within NEPA. The XB-1 is designed for short, supersonic flights and due to its experimental designation, is restricted from operating over densely populated areas or within Class B airspace. The FAA agreed with Boom's petition, granting the SFA for the XB-1 and chase aircraft for the 20 requested flights and under the limitations listed in the petition. The test flights were required to be conducted between April 7, 2024 and Apil 7, 2025 during daytime hours and at FL 300. The SFA expires when the 20 test flights are completed or on April 7, 2025 unless sooner superseded or revoked. The FAA granted this on April 7.RELATED STORY:Boom Supersonic celebrates XB-1 supersonic jet first flightBoom Supersonic celebrated the first flight of the XB-1 on March 22, just days before the petition was sent in for supersonic testing. The XB-1 took its first flight at the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California, the same airspace where the Bell X-1 first broke the sound barrier in 1947. The XB-1 met its test objectives, safely reaching an altitude of 7,120 feet and speeds of up to 238 knots. Just over 20 years since the Concorde retired the XB-1 is signifying the return of civil supersonic aircraft for air travel. The XB-1 program is the foundation for the Overture, which aims to transform commercial travel.