In view of FAA’s proposal to lift the 50-plus-year-old ban on supersonic flights over the continental US, what are your thoughts on the possibility of supersonic passenger aircraft in the US and around the world? And with companies already developing supersonic programs, such as Boom Supersonic’s Overture, who do you think is going to enter the market first?
Excellent idea! And it should be managed realistically to meet environmental concerns and to promote advances in clean technology. I believe Dassault Falcon Jet will explode into the market.
Peter Savasta
A&P. Falcon 7X
Dir of Aircraft Maintenance
Solairus Aviation
Teterboro NJ
All players are in the hunt, and technology has come a long way down the road. In my humble opinion, it’s way past time but costs will inhibit GA’s entry.
Russell Appleton
ATP. Citation V/I, Falcon 50, Gulfstream IV, North American Rockwell OV-10D & MD 500
Dir of Ops
AirtStat
Manning SC
The engineering of supersonic aircraft has evolved, but the physics of supersonic flight remain the same. I’m skeptical of the practicality of supersonic flight from the standpoints of economics, environmental impact, and public relations. You can’t get around the fact that supersonic flight is less fuel efficient than subsonic flight. In addition, the physics of supersonic flight require a very slim aerodynamic cabin, which is the exact opposite of the current trend in ultra-long-range business jets. Will the potential time savings be worth the tradeoffs in efficiency and comfort? Also, are there enough potential buyers and passengers to support the required number of aircraft sales to make the production and support of supersonic civilian aircraft viable for years to come? I’ve been reading about the coming bright future of supersonic civilian aircraft for at least 40 years, and, as I’ve stated, the physics remains the same. The Concorde was an engineering marvel and a commercial failure. The temperatures and pressures involved with supersonic flight, the inherent inefficiency of supersonic cruise, and the design compromises necessary to bring it to fruition make me very skeptical of supersonic civilian transport aircraft occupying anything other than a very small and short-lived niche in aviation history. This doesn’t even address the obvious negative public perception already associated with business aviation in certain political circles and environmental groups. Producing even more carbon emissions so that ultra-wealthy users can save a bit more time is going to be a tough pill for many to swallow. I may be wrong, and I hope I am, but I don’t think that, in the time I have left working in this industry, I will see any significant numbers of supersonic airliners plying our skies.
Rob Rettig
ATP/CFI. Falcon 8X/7X/900EX EASy, Gulfstream G550/G450, Challenger 300 & Lockheed C-130E/H2/H3
Lead Captain
Executive Jet Management
Mesa AZ
I think Boom Technology is on the right track.
Robert Grevin
ATP/CFII/A&P. Boeing 747-400/-8
Pilot
Atlas Air
Hanover Park IL
I’m all for it. There is an increase in international travel obviously by the bigger and increase fuel ranges to justify it.
Michael Zangara
ATP/Helo/CFII. King Air 260& Sikorsky S-76D
Chief Pilot
Arkansas Children’s Hospital
Benton AR
Don’t know which company will be the first to offer a supersonic aircraft, nor do I think that’s what really matters. What I am completely in favor of, and genuinely excited about, is lifting the ban on supersonic commercial flights over the continental US and having supersonic aircraft transporting passengers around the world. This will encourage aircraft manufacturers to invest in developing commercial airplanes that significantly reduce flight times. With the exception of the Concorde era, commercial aviation has seen little meaningful progress in speed since the introduction of the first jet airliners in the mid-20th century. Meanwhile, other areas such as avionics, passenger comfort, fuel efficiency, and operating economics have advanced significantly.
Juan Zambelli
Comm-Multi-Inst/CFI. Pilatus PC-12/47E
Ops Mgr & Captain
Quilque
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Not sure if anyone is going to see it. The economic hurdle is very high and will require a lot of capital investment. That being said, I’d like to see it happen soon enough for me to take advantage of it, especially for international travel.
William Misuk
ATP/CFII. Citation Latitude
Captain
NetJets
Fort Worth TX
I think transporting passengers in supersonic aircraft will be happening in less than 10 years.
John Rich
ATP. Citation Excel
Managing Pilot
H2C Air
Hamilton OH
The physics never went away – the Concorde proved that decades ago. What is changing is economics and politics. Replacing a flat Mach-1 ban with a noise-based standard is the right move, since it lets the airplane, not the calendar, decide what’s possible. However, I’d caution the industry against overpromising the way it did in the ‘60s. This isn’t Concorde 2.0. It’s a narrower, premium cabin play on high-yield city pairs, at least for the first decade. Get the position right and it sticks. Oversell it as mass-market and it repeats history. As to who gets there first, the Boom Overture is the clear pacesetter – engine core testing, an FAA experimental cert on XB-1, and real airline order bookings from United, American, and Japan Airlines give it a credibility no one else in the space has matched. My money is on Boom being first to a certified revenue passenger seat, likely late this decade on transoceanic routes before overland ever opens up commercially. But watch the business aviation lane closely – that’s the one that matters most for our world. The Spike S-512, a bizjet-scale program and boomless supersonic cruise, is a far more natural fit for Part 91/135 flight departments than a widebody airliner ever will be. If I’m advising a principal on future fleet strategy, that’s the segment I’m tracking first.
Greg Woods
ATP. Gulfstream G650ER
Former Senior Director
Qualcomm
Carlsbad CA
Very exciting to think of civilian supersonic flight. I flew in the Concorde at OSH (Oshkosh WI) in the 1980s, and it was remarkable for a plane designed with slide rules. I hope Boom is successful and I can fly supersonic again.
Richard Lemon
ATP/CFI. Citation Mustang
Owner & Pilot
MedEx
Middleton WI
Can’t say who will enter the market first. However, it is high time FAA allowed supersonic transports (SSTs) to operate over land, especially considering the development of “quiet” advanced aircraft profiles.
Sara Stearns
ATP/Helo. Airbus EC135
Former Pilot
CALSTAR
Seaside CA
I believe the introduction of supersonic flights will be a net benefit to individuals and corporations that are time-sensitive. However, supersonic flight has to be introduced in a manner that is environmentally and economically sustainable for everyone. It’s anyone’s guess as to which firm will be successful in entering service first, as there are still so many challenges to overcome. I’ll be watching with great interest.
Allen Byl
ATP. Boeing 787/737
Line Captain
WestJet Airlines
Foothills AB, Canada
Gulfstream may have something in development.
Dave Bickmore
ATP/CFII. Gulfstream G650ER & Falcon 2000EASy
Contract Pilot
IFCC
Bay City MI
Overture is leading the way, in my opinion. However, it will require innovation from a variety of companies to make it happen. I think supersonic civil aviation is long overdue for international routes, so it would be a welcome change.
Tyler Forbes
Operator. Cessna 172
Industrial Mechanic
Orano Canada
Chilliwack BC, Canada
We have to take a look at lessons from the Concorde. It wasn’t dropped merely because of regulations that prohibited supersonic flight over land but, at least in part, because of cost. Having the regulations lifted, which is something I am a huge fan of, will help, but it won’t carry the project all the way. It’s hard to say who will enter the market first, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a major carrier like United or American. Achieving fuel efficiency, minimizing drag, facilitating arrival procedures, and maintaining a safe record are all important steps in the right direction for the return of supersonic flight. I believe absolutely that it can happen if we don’t overregulate. I understand the risks associated with having sonic booms over the US. However, these risks are arguably minor compared to things like bombings, homicides, and gang activity. In fact, during the 1980s absolutely no deaths were attributable to sonic booms. The worst they can do is give people a scare or the false idea that there is a gunshot, but the same can be said about things like fireworks. The benefits outweigh the drawbacks, even if the sonic booms remain as loud and distracting as they once were. All signs point to them becoming quieter.
Zanden Lyons
Operator. Cessna 152
Student Pilot
Bob Hoover Academy
Salinas CA
Boom is leading on supersonic aircraft. I hope they are the first ones to enter the market.
Malcolm Soare
ATP/A&P. Beechjet 400
Head of Maintenance
Davidson Companies
Fort Peck MT
Time is money. Therefore, for those who value their time and can afford it, civilian supersonic flight will happen. I’m not going to roll the dice on who enters the market first.
Bruce Bottger
ATP/Helo. Airbus A321, Bombardier CRJ900 & King Air 200/300
Senior Aviation Advisor
Likon Law
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
While great advances have been made in the areas of efficiency and avionics, max cruise speed has remained more or less static I believe the time for supersonic flight has come. Airbus, Boeing, and Gulfstream are likely to do it first.
Gary Schank
ATP. Boeing 737
Former Captain
Delta Air Lines
Mission Viejo CA
Very hard to tell who will enter the market at this time. However, I think it’s going to be great once we have the aircraft flying with passengers. Reduced travel times are long awaited. And I hope the price isn’t in the same range as the Concorde and is more affordable.
Dion Daley
ATP. Boeing 777
First Officer
Emirates
Toronto ON, Canada
Innovation is good. It is about time that old rules got adjusted to reflect modern times. I also believe Boom may be the first one to go into the market.
Harvey Meharry
ATP. Citation XLS+
Chief Pilot & Dept Mgr
SMI
Rusk TX
