Northwest Aerospace News October | November Issue No. 11 | Page 62

Bringing Supersonic to Washington: The Supersonic
Flight Alliance The Supersonic Flight Alliance
Overland testing is essential for all commercial aviation
applications, due in part to the increased safety it provides
and reduction in wasted fuel — specifically, the ability to
monitor test flights from the ground, and identify the
multitude of alternate airports to use in case of emergency.
But today the only overland supersonic testing option is at
Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert, California,
a small and busy corridor where military operations take
priority. Due to stringent rules relating to the certification
and operation of civil supersonic aircraft — many based
on the sonic boom of outdated technologies — no other
sites have been approved through current legislature.
However, there is bipartisan agreement that the U.S. is los-
ing its technological advantage, especially in aerospace,
and the government is committed to bringing supersonic
technology back to commercial use.
To open up the possibilities the FAA is currently tasked
with creating rules relating to the certification and opera-
tion of civil supersonic aircraft, with new noise standards
to be proposed in the first quarter of 2020. With the
strength and influence of our aerospace industry, coupled
with their commitment to bring new aerospace oppor-
tunities to Washington State, AeroTEC recognized that
there was an opportunity for Washingtonians to impact
the legislature that will ultimately affect where the FAA
allows testing of supersonic airplanes. Cue the Supersonic
Flight Alliance (SSFA) — a collaborative effort to drive
focus and energy towards establishing a 300-mile Civilian
Supersonic Corridor (CSSC) over Central and Eastern
Washington, just north of Moses Lake, Washington and
Grant County International Airport. development of supersonic commercial aircraft in America by representing the
interests of the aerospace Industry to the responsible governments.
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Vision: Provide the infrastructure necessary for the safe, sustainable and effective
Mission: Create a civilian supersonic corridor over Eastern Washington.
Supporting Organizations:
Port of Moses Lake, PNAA, AFA...and many more.
This is an ideal location for flight testing because of its airspace,
low population density, long runways and proximity to other
airports. This particular section of airspace has historically been
used by Boeing, Mitsubishi Aircraft, the U.S. Navy and JAL
Airlines for testing and training.
The initiative is bringing together OEMs with local and feder-
al government to support responsible lobbying, research and
education, development, and infrastructure efforts for supersonic
aircraft in Eastern Washington. To date the SSFA has successful-
ly brought together a range of OEM’s, trade organizations, ports
and economic alliances to create a united front. They have met
with state and national legislators and engaged the FAA, launched
research programs including noise research, proposed the loca-
tion and shape of the corridor and sought feedback from industry
partners.