The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is concerned that supersonic aircraft, operating below 18,000 feet may create a hazard for general aviation aircraft, many of whom rely on see-and-avoid maintain a safe distance between themselves and other aircraft.
“We believe it is important that supersonic activity does not infringe on general aviation’s ability to access and transit the National Airspace System,” Rune Duke, AOPA’s senior director of airspace and air traffic, said in response to a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) released by the FAA in preparation for supersonic flight testing over the United States.
AOPA is concerned that pilots operating under visual flight rules above 10,000 feet may not have time to “see and avoid” aircraft such as the planned Aerion AS2 flying at supersonic speeds. They propose supersonic flights be restricted to altitudes above FL180 (approximately 18,000 feet above sea level).)