“Advances in aerospace engineering, materials science, noise reduction, and new operational concepts will eliminate the old sonic boom. This means we can ultimately repeal the ban from the 1970s on supersonic flight over U.S. territory while minimizing noise impacts to residents in communities along the route and near airports.” Source: FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, commenting as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) takes a pivotal step toward enabling civil supersonic flights over the continental United States, including a repeal of the ban from the 1970s.