President Donald Trump has signed executive orders directing the Federal Aviation Administration to lift the 1973 ban on supersonic flight over land and accelerate the integration of drones into US airspace.
The three orders signed last week also establish programs to boost electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft development and reduce US reliance on foreign drone manufacturers.
The supersonic flight order directs US regulator the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to repeal the long-standing prohibition on overland supersonic flight within 180 days, provided the aircraft do not produce an audible sonic boom on the ground. The agency must establish interim noise-based certification standards and issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking within 18 months to define acceptable noise thresholds for take-off, landing, and en-route supersonic operations.
“Advances in aerospace engineering, materials science, and noise reduction now make supersonic flight not just possible, but safe, sustainable, and commercially viable,” said Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
For drone operations, the US Government is establishing a federal task force to ensure US control over US airspace and expand restrictions over sensitive sites. The order addresses what officials describe as growing threats from criminal, terrorist, and foreign misuse of drones in US airspace.
The FAA receives more than 100 drone-sighting reports near airports each month, with incidents occasionally disrupting flights and sporting events.
According to Reuters, the US National Football League (NFL) praised the executive order, noting increasing numbers of drones flying into restricted airspace during games, while Sebastian Gorka, senior director of counterterrorism at the National Security Council said, “We will be increasing counter-drone capabilities and capacities. We will increase the enforcement of current laws to deter two types of individuals: evildoers and idiots.”
The drone order requires the FAA to issue proposed rules within 30 days that enable routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations for commercial and public safety purposes, with final rules published within 240 days. BVLOS operations are considered essential for commercial drone deliveries and expanded commercial operations.
The administration is establishing an eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) as an extension of existing programs to accelerate the deployment of eVTOL operations. The FAA must select at least five pilot projects within 180 days, with operations beginning within 90 days of project agreements.
Selection criteria include the use of eVTOL aircraft developed by US-based entities, geographic and economic representation, and coverage of various operations including advanced air mobility, medical response, cargo transport, and rural access. The eIPP will conclude three years after the first pilot project becomes operational.
To strengthen domestic drone manufacturing, all agencies must prioritize US-manufactured drones over foreign alternatives to the maximum extent permitted by law. The Federal Acquisition Security Council will publish a Covered Foreign Entity List within 30 days, identifying companies that pose supply chain risks.
The Commerce Department has 90 days to take action t secure the US drone supply chain against foreign control or exploitation, including proposing rulemaking and conducting investigations. The orders also direct expedited export procedures for US-manufactured civil drones to allied nations.
For military applications, the Defense Department must expand its Blue UAS List to include all drones compliant with existing legislation and update the list monthly. The department has 90 days to coordinate with the FAA on streamlining approval processes for UAS training access to airspace.
Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, which is developing a 80 passenger capacity commercial aircraft, praised the supersonic executive order. “Today we can celebrate – quiet supersonic flight is allowed! The supersonic race is on and a new era of commercial flight can begin. Unleashed, my bet is very much on the US and Boom Supersonic.”
Michael Robbins, president and CEO of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International said, “The White House Executive Orders issued today showcase that drones are critical to American economic strength, national security, and global leadership.
“By prioritizing long-overdue drone enabling rules and much needed security reforms, the Administration is accelerating the safe and responsible growth of the drone industry at a pivotal moment.”
