Congressman Tim Moore Introduces Legislation to Prepare American Airports for Supersonic and Hypersonic Commercial Air Travel

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Recently, Congressman Tim Moore (NC-14) introduced H.R. 4012, the National Airport Supersonic Readiness Act, which directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to evaluate whether U.S. airports are equipped to accommodate the next generation of supersonic and hypersonic commercial airliners that are currently under development.

“President Trump is laying the groundwork to bring back supersonic commercial flight, and we need to be ready. Since the last supersonic commercial airliner was retired in 2003, there hasn’t been a serious national effort to prepare our infrastructure for the future of air travel,” said Congressman Moore. "North Carolina is already leading in supersonic flight innovation, and this legislation will make sure we’re building on that momentum.”

The study directed by H.R. 4012 will assess whether major U.S. airports have the appropriate runways, fueling stations, and compliance capacity for environmental and noise standards related to supersonic and hypersonic travel.

This legislation complements President Trump’s June 6, 2025 Executive Order, legalizing supersonic commercial flights over land to ensure America continues to lead the world in aviation innovation.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

Key Background:

• Prior to the President’s Executive Order, supersonic commercial flights over land have been banned in the U.S. since 1973 due to concerns about sonic booms and their impact on communities. As a result, aircraft like the Concorde were limited to transoceanic routes.
• The President’s Executive Order recognizes that today’s supersonic aircraft use advanced materials, quieter engines, and cleaner fuels — helping them overcome the challenges that the Concorde faced.