The Future of the Travel Industry with the Lift of the Ban on Supersonic Flights
The last flight of the Concorde was 22 years ago. The supersonic aircraft, now retired, flew at a maximum speed of 2,179 km per hour. This allowed travelers to go from London to New York City in about three hours. The US ban on supersonic flights over land limited the Concorde’s routes and continues to restrict commercial planes from flying over land at speeds faster than sound. Today, those fast – and noisy – flights could make a comeback.
### The Return of Supersonic Flights
On Friday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to overturn the 1973 ban on civilian supersonic flights, instructing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish a standard for certifying the noise of supersonic aircraft. This decision could lead to the opening of faster routes if companies manage to make their aircraft quieter and tickets more affordable.
### Boom!
A Colorado-based company called Boom is working on developing a supersonic aircraft, the Overture. The current prototype, XB-1, is designed to fly at Mach 1.7 with 64 to 80 passengers on board. Boom is the leading US company in the market today and welcomed the news of the ban being lifted. At the end of January, Boom Supersonic successfully flew its experimental aircraft faster than sound for the first time. Companies like American Airlines and United Airlines have shown interest in Boom.
Before we get too excited, it’s important to note the set of rules that come with lifting the ban. Trump’s executive order instructs the FAA to revoke the supersonic speed limit as long as the aircraft doesn’t produce a loud sonic boom that can be heard on the ground. The order calls for a noise certification standard that takes into account community acceptance, economic reasonableness, and technological feasibility. It also states that aerospace engineering developers must make supersonic flights not only possible but also safe, sustainable, and commercially viable.
NASA is also working on its own solution to mitigate noise impact. This year, the agency tested the X-59 QueSST, designed to fly faster than sound but with a significant reduction in noise. The plane reduces pressure changes flowing over land, thus reducing noise levels. The X-59’s engine is mounted on the aircraft, reducing the amount of noise reaching the ground.
In addition to noise, commercial supersonic flights are also criticized for their negative environmental impact due to higher fuel consumption. The Concorde consumed 22 tons of fuel per hour, double the amount a Boeing 747 consumes while carrying four times more passengers, according to the Transport and Environment agency. To reduce the environmental impact, Boom plans to operate its aircraft with sustainable alternative fuels. However, this may not completely solve the issue as faster planes need to fly at higher altitudes where the air is less dense, resulting in less drag and heat generation. At those heights in the stratosphere, the plane’s emissions would remain in place up to 20 times longer, as per NASA. The agency is also working to find solutions to these problems.
Supersonic flights are also expensive due to operational costs, and premium services are extremely costly. For instance, the Concorde was considered unprofitable because the fuel cost exceeded the profit from each flight. Airlines looking to enter the supersonic market will need to find a sustainable model to offer faster flights to customers.
The lifting of the ban may be a first step, but there is still a long way to go before fast routes take off and reach the sky.
