The FAA has issued Boom Supersonic its FAA G-1 stage 1 issue paper towards clearing the Mach 1.7 Overture airliner for commercial service by 2030.
The G-1 certification basis spells out the specific airworthiness standards and environmental standards—including special conditions—required for FAA Type Certification.
Under the second stage of the G-1 process now underway the FAA will lay out its view on what the certification basis—including special conditions—should be for the Overture.
In the third stage of the G-1 process, Boom will coordinate with the FAA on what it intends to do to meet the requirements. This could result in an updated issue paper from the FAA if required, or—if agreement is reached—will lead to a fourth stage to conclude the G-1.
Boom will work in parallel on finalising its G-2 issue paper with the FAA, which will set forth the means of compliance to meet the requirements laid out in the G-1 issue paper.
Higher altitude operation
Blake Scholl, Boom founder and CEO, said: “We know where the attention is going to be—it’s areas like higher altitude operation which is going to put a lot of energy around things like cabin depressurisation and rotor burst.”
“We are planning for all of that in the design of the aircraft referencing features such as the intentional positioning of the engine turbomachinery aft of the cabin rear pressure bulkhead. This is how we build in safety. This is how we build in certification from the start. This concept has been studied very carefully from a certification perspective,” he concluded.
Boom commercial order book
Overture will fly at twice the speed of today’s airliners and is designed to run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Boom’s commercial order book stands at 130 aircraft, including both orders and pre-orders from major airlines such as United, American and Japan Airlines.
Boom continues to advance with Northrop Grumman on a defence variant of Overture that will expand the market for supersonic aircraft.
Image: Boom Supersonic
First published by FINN: www.wearefinn.com
Oct 6 2023 – 12:08 pm
