Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. FIGURES. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3410, the Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act, as amended, bipartisan legislation introduced by Representative Nehls and Representative Davids.

One of the priorities of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which I have the privilege of sitting on with my colleague from Ohio, Representative Taylor, is to look for new ways to help our constituents have a better flying experience.

Supersonic flight is poised to be another paradigm shift in the aviation industry, especially if it can be done in ways that maintain safety and limit noise and sonic booms.

However, currently supersonic aircraft are prohibited from operating in the U.S. without a special authorization from the FAA.

H.R. 3410, as amended, is the first step to eventually allowing Americans to safely travel across the country at almost half the time it takes now, providing more time for being productive or spending the time with family and not on a plane.

The bill would require the FAA to revise current regulations to ensure supersonic aircraft could fly in the U.S. as long as these operations do not create a supersonic boom that reaches the ground.

It would also help ensure these aircraft would not create noise levels any higher than traditional aircraft that are currently in operation.

This bipartisan bill also calls for future updates to the standard by the FAA to ensure supersonic aircraft become even quieter in the future.

Furthermore, the bill ensures that these noise standards are periodically reviewed and further updated to reflect the latest advances in aircraft technology.

While Congress and the FAA should continue working to make supersonic flight more sustainable, I am greatly encouraged that the industry stakeholders are designing their supersonic aircraft to fly completely on sustainable aviation fuel.

The potential benefits to consumers are promising: less time on the aircraft and more time building that new business or spending time with friends and family.

Madam Speaker, I thank the Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Nehls and Representative Davids from Kansas for their leadership on this legislation. I support this legislation and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Madam Speaker, in closing we should have been here a long time ago in terms of being able to build on the supersonic technology that has been out for years. It has been over two decades now since a supersonic aircraft has been used in a commercial context, and we have the technological advances to be able to do so and do so safely and efficiently.

This legislation is common sense. It pushes back or guards against the things that had the most worries in previous iterations of this type of technology, particularly sonic booms reaching the ground and noise levels.

The flying public deserves a better flying experience, and this bill is a step in the right direction of being able to provide that. That is why I support it, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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