"steve mew" wrote in message
...
Does anyone know where the specific FAA regulations are that govern
supersonic flight ?
ie Hypothetically if one wanted to fly across the continental US at post
sonic speed how would you go about it ?

Title 14: Aeronautics and Space
PART 91—GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES
Subpart I—Operating Noise Limits

§ 91.817 Civil aircraft sonic boom.

(a) No person may operate a civil aircraft in the United States at a true
flight Mach number greater than 1 except in compliance with conditions and
limitations in an authorization to exceed Mach 1 issued to the operator
under appendix B of this part.

(b) In addition, no person may operate a civil aircraft for which the
maximum operating limit speed MM0 exceeds a Mach number of 1, to or from an
airport in the United States, unless—

(1) Information available to the flight crew includes flight limitations
that ensure that flights entering or leaving the United States will not
cause a sonic boom to reach the surface within the United States; and

(2) The operator complies with the flight limitations prescribed in
paragraph (b)(1) of this section or complies with conditions and limitations
in an authorization to exceed Mach 1 issued under appendix B of this part.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number
2120–0005)

Title 14: Aeronautics and Space
PART 91—GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES
Subpart I—Operating Noise Limits

§ 91.819 Civil supersonic airplanes that do not comply with part 36.

(a) Applicability. This section applies to civil supersonic airplanes that
have not been shown to comply with the Stage 2 noise limits of part 36 in
effect on October 13, 1977, using applicable trade-off provisions, and that
are operated in the United States, after July 31, 1978.

(b) Airport use. Except in an emergency, the following apply to each person
who operates a civil supersonic airplane to or from an airport in the United
States:

(1) Regardless of whether a type design change approval is applied for under
part 21 of this chapter, no person may land or take off an airplane covered
by this section for which the type design is changed, after July 31, 1978,
in a manner constituting an “acoustical change” under §21.93 unless the
acoustical change requirements of part 36 are complied with.

(2) No flight may be scheduled, or otherwise planned, for takeoff or landing
after 10 p.m. and before 7 a.m. local time.

Title 14: Aeronautics and Space
PART 91—GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES
Subpart I—Operating Noise Limits


§ 91.821 Civil supersonic airplanes: Noise limits.
Except for Concorde airplanes having flight time before January 1, 1980, no
person may operate in the United States, a civil supersonic airplane that
does not comply with Stage 2 noise limits of part 36 in effect on October
13, 1977, using applicable trade-off provisions.

Title 14: Aeronautics and Space
PART 91—GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES
Subpart K—Fractional Ownership Operations


Appendix B to Part 91—Authorizations to Exceed Mach 1 (§91.817)

Section 1. Application

(a) An applicant for an authorization to exceed Mach 1 must apply in a form
and manner prescribed by the Administrator and must comply with this
appendix.

(b) In addition, each application for an authorization to exceed Mach 1
covered by section 2(a) of this appendix must contain all information
requested by the Administrator necessary to assist him in determining
whether the designation of a particular test area or issuance of a
particular authorization is a “major Federal action significantly affecting
the quality of the human environment” within the meaning of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and to assist him
in complying with that act and with related Executive Orders, guidelines,
and orders prior to such action.

(c) In addition, each application for an authorization to exceed Mach 1
covered by section 2(a) of this appendix must contain—

(1) Information showing that operation at a speed greater than Mach 1 is
necessary to accomplish one or more of the purposes specified in section
2(a) of this appendix, including a showing that the purpose of the test
cannot be safely or properly accomplished by overocean testing;

(2) A description of the test area proposed by the applicant, including an
environmental analysis of that area meeting the requirements of paragraph
(b) of this section; and

(3) Conditions and limitations that will ensure that no measurable sonic
boom overpressure will reach the surface outside of the designated test
area.

(d) An application is denied if the Administrator finds that such action is
necessary to protect or enhance the environment.

Section 2. Issuance

(a) For a flight in a designated test area, an authorization to exceed Mach
1 may be issued when the Administrator has taken the environmental
protective actions specified in section 1(b) of this appendix and the
applicant shows one or more of the following:

(1) The flight is necessary to show compliance with airworthiness
requirements.

(2) The flight is necessary to determine the sonic boom characteristics of
the airplane or to establish means of reducing or eliminating the effects of
sonic boom.

(3) The flight is necessary to demonstrate the conditions and limitations
under which speeds greater than a true flight Mach number of 1 will not
cause a measurable sonic boom overpressure to reach the surface.

(b) For a flight outside of a designated test area, an authorization to
exceed Mach 1 may be issued if the applicant shows conservatively under
paragraph (a)(3) of this section that—

(1) The flight will not cause a measurable sonic boom overpressure to reach
the surface when the aircraft is operated under conditions and limitations
demonstrated under paragraph (a)(3) of this section; and

(2) Those conditions and limitations represent all foreseeable operating
conditions.

Section 3. Duration

(a) An authorization to exceed Mach 1 is effective until it expires or is
surrendered, or until it is suspended or terminated by the Administrator.
Such an authorization may be amended or suspended by the Administrator at
any time if the Administrator finds that such action is necessary to protect
the environment. Within 30 days of notification of amendnent, the holder of
the authorization must request reconsideration or the amendnent becomes
final. Within 30 days of notification of suspension, the holder of the
authorization must request reconsideration or the authorization is
automatically terminated. If reconsideration is requested within the 30-day
period, the amendment or suspension continues until the holder shows why the
authorization should not be amended or terminated. Upon such showing, the
Administrator may terminate or amend the authorization if the Administrator
finds that such action is necessary to protect the environment, or he may
reinstate the authorization without amendment if he finds that termination
or amendnent is not necessary to protect the environment.

(b) Findings and actions by the Administrator under this section do not
affect any certificate issued under title VI of the Federal Aviation Act of
1958.

[Doc. No. 18334, 54 FR 34327, Aug. 18, 1989]