Civil supersonic airplanes: Noise limits

This regulation sets noise limits for supersonic aircraft operating in U.S. airspace. Any civil supersonic airplane must meet the Stage 2 noise standards from Part 36 of the regulations as they existed on October 13, 1977, including any applicable trade-off provisions that allow flexibility in meeting those limits.

The only exception is for Concorde aircraft that had logged flight time before January 1, 1980—these specific airplanes were grandfathered in and exempt from the requirement.

In practical terms, this means any new supersonic transport aircraft must meet these noise standards to operate in the United States. Since the Concorde fleet is no longer flying, this regulation now applies to all civil supersonic aircraft, including any future supersonic business jets or airliners. The rule ensures that supersonic aircraft don't create excessive noise pollution, particularly during takeoff and landing near populated areas.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*