[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 7, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58701-58702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-22898]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Civil Supersonic Aircraft Panel Discussion

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting participation.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises interested persons that the FAA is 
participating in a panel session on civil supersonic aircraft research. 
The session will include presentations on current research programs and 
a question and answer session for attendees. The FAA is seeking to 
raise public awareness of the continuing technological advances in 
supersonic aircraft technology aimed at reducing the intensity of sonic 
boom.

DATES: The public session will take place on October 24, 2008. The 
panel discussion is from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Rosemont, IL.

ADDRESSES: The symposium is sponsored by the O'Hare Noise Compatibility 
Commission (ONCC) and will be held at the Hyatt Rosemont Hotel, 6350 N. 
River Road, Rosemont, IL. Attendance is open to all interested parties, 
and there are no fees to attend. The FAA panel discussion is the last 
item on the symposium agenda.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laurette Fisher, Office of Environment 
and Energy (AEE-100), Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; facsimile (202) 267-5594, telephone 
(202) 267-3561.
    Background: Since March 1973, supersonic flight over land by civil 
aircraft has been prohibited in the United States. The Concorde was the 
only civil supersonic airplane that offered service to the United 
States, but that airplane is no longer in service.
    The interest in supersonic aircraft technology has not disappeared. 
Current research is dedicated toward reducing the impact of sonic booms 
as they reach the ground, in an effort to make overland flight 
acceptable. Recent research has produced promising results for low boom 
intensity, and has renewed interest in developing supersonic civil 
aircraft that could be

[[Page 58702]]

considered environmentally acceptable for supersonic flight over land.
    The FAA is leading a panel discussion entitled, ``State of the Art 
of Supersonics Aircraft Technology--What has progressed in science 
since 1973?'' The purpose of this panel session is to raise public 
awareness on advances in supersonic technology, and for the FAA, the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and industry to 
get feedback from interested persons.
    Public involvement is essential in any future definition of an 
acceptable new standard that would allow supersonic flights over land. 
We anticipate that this will be the first of many meetings informing 
the public on developments in the research of shaped sonic booms and 
other technical and environmental challenges that need to be addressed 
in developing a new supersonic airplane.
    The FAA's presentation and panel discussion will take place on 
Friday, October 24, 2008, as part of the O'Hare Noise Compatibility 
Commission Symposium. It will be held at the Hyatt Rosemont Hotel, 6350 
N. River Road, Rosemont, Illinois.
    More information about the O'Hare Noise Compatibility Commission 
can be found at its Web site, www.oharenoise.org.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 24, 2008.
Lynne Pickard,
Acting Director of Environment and Energy.
 [FR Doc. E8-22898 Filed 10-6-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M