H.R. 3410 · Where this bill is now
In the Senate
Passed the House Mar 24, 2026. Received Mar 25, 2026; no Senate vote yet
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryAllows supersonic flights over the U.S
Right now, regular passenger planes can't go faster than sound (Mach 1) over land in the U.S. without special permission. This bill would let the FAA change those rules so supersonic flights could happen normally, as long as the sonic boom doesn't reach the ground. The FAA would also have to set noise limits so these super-fast planes aren't louder than regular planes taking off and landing.
How it affects you
If you live near an airport or under flight paths, this could eventually affect the sounds you hear, though the bill requires that supersonic planes meet the same noise levels as regular aircraft. Travelers might one day have faster flight options. Most of the direct impact would be felt by aircraft makers developing supersonic technology and the FAA, which would need to create new rules for this kind of flying.
Read the official summary (Reported to House, Mar 16, 2026)
Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act
This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to allow civil aircraft to operate at speeds above Mach 1 (i.e., supersonic) over land in the United States under certain conditions.
Specifically, the FAA must issue or revise regulations to allow for the operation of civil aircraft at speeds greater than Mach 1 in the national airspace system without a special authorization, so long as no sonic boom reaches the ground in the United States.
The FAA must also issue a final rule to establish noise standards that prohibit civil aircraft operating at speeds greater than Mach 1 from exceeding takeoff and landing noise levels required for subsonic aircraft (i.e., aircraft that operate at speeds that do not exceed Mach 1). As part of the rule, the FAA must specify a process to periodically review and update the noise standards to reflect future advances in aircraft noise reduction technology and regulatory changes.
Current regulations prohibit civil aircraft from operating above Mach 1 speeds over land in the United States without a special flight authorization issued by the FAA.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 3410
AN ACT
Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act
Sponsor: Rep. Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22) · Introduced May 14, 2025 · Transportation and Public Works · 4 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 25, 2026: “Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.”