Earthjustice and Sierra Club Urge FAA to Keep Ban on Commercial Supersonic Flight

Earthjustice and Sierra Club Urge FAA to Keep Ban on Commercial Supersonic Flight

The long-held rule is a commonsense protection against sonic booms and unnecessary climate emissions

Contacts

Alexandria Trimble, Earthjustice, [email protected]

Larisa Manescu,Sierra Club, [email protected]

Today, Earthjustice and Sierra Club filed comments urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) not to repeal its long-held ban on commercial supersonic flight over land.

"The FAA's proposal to allow supersonic flights over our communities reverses decades of evidence-based safeguards and flies in the face of the agency's statutory mandate to protect the public from aircraft noise and sonic booms," said Amanda Lineberry, Senior Attorney at Earthjustice. "Enabling supersonic flight will result in dangerous emissions that exacerbate the climate crisis and endanger our public health and the environment, all to serve only the wealthiest of customers."

"For 50 years, the ban on supersonic flights has protected communities from deafening sonic booms, dangerous air pollution, and unnecessary harm to wildlife," said Andrea Issod, Sierra Club Senior Attorney. "The Trump administration is now trying to throw these protections away, not because the science has changed but to satisfy corporate interests chasing faster luxury travel. Americans shouldn't have to sacrifice our air quality, public health, or peace and quiet so a select few can fly faster than the speed of sound. The FAA must reject this reckless 'boom-doggle' and keep the ban on supersonic flight in place."

Background

Supersonic flight is disproportionately harmful to public health and the environment. In addition to carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and water vapor, supersonic aircraft emit sulfur oxides, black carbon, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter. When breathed in, these pollutants harm public health by increasing instances of respiratory illness, heart disease, and cognitive impairments in children.

Greenhouse gas emissions from aircraft account for 4% of all U.S. climate emissions, and supersonic planes burn seven to nine times more fuel than regular planes.

Along with climate-warming and unhealthy emissions, supersonic aircrafts cause "sonic booms" and other types of noise including evanescent waves. These booms produce shock waves that travel for tens of miles on either side of the flight path of a supersonic jet, disturbing humans and wildlife alike.

About Earthjustice

Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.