Notice2026-18523
Petition for Authorization To Exceed Mach 1
Primary source
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Published
September 11, 2026
Effective
August 20, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
This notice summarizes the petition Hermeus Corporation submitted to FAA requesting a special flight authorization as provided for in FAA regulations. The notice also provides for public awareness of FAA's decision to grant Hermeus Corporation's request. FAA is not requesting comments on the petition or FAA's decision regarding the petition because a special flight authorization petition to exceed Mach 1 follows a separate regulatory process.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 175 (Friday, September 11, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 175 (Friday, September 11, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57955-57956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18523]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Petition for Authorization To Exceed Mach 1
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of decision to grant an authorization to exceed Mach 1.
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SUMMARY: This notice summarizes the petition Hermeus Corporation
submitted to FAA requesting a special flight authorization as provided
for in FAA regulations. The notice also provides for public awareness
of FAA's decision to grant Hermeus Corporation's request. FAA is not
requesting comments on the petition or FAA's decision regarding the
petition because a special flight authorization petition to exceed Mach
1 follows a separate regulatory process.
DATES: The grant of the special flight authorization to exceed Mach 1
is effective August 20, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Senzig, Office of Environment
and Energy, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue
SW, Washington, DC 20591; 781-238-7034, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#82e6e3f4ebe6ace3acf1e7ecf8ebe5c2e4e3e3ace5edf4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9cf8fdeaf5f8b2fdb2eff9f2e6f5fbdcfafdfdb2fbf3ea">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Petitioner: Hermeus Corporation.
Applicable Sections of 14 CFR: Sections 91.817 and 91.818.
Description of Relief Sought: Hermeus Corporation seeks relief to
allow certain flight tests to exceed Mach 1.
On May 22, 2026, Hermeus Corporation, Atlanta, GA (Hermeus),
petitioned FAA to allow Hermeus to operate a civil aircraft that is
expected to exceed Mach 1 speeds during flight testing. Hermeus
submitted subsequent revisions to this petition with the final revision
received on August 20, 2026. Specifically, Hermeus requested to conduct
developmental flight test operations of an experimental aircraft, the
Quarterhorse Mark 2.2 (Mk 2.2) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), over the
White Sand Missile Range (WSMR) inside Restricted Areas R-5111 A-D and
R-5107 located in New Mexico. The petitioner requested authorization
for up to six supersonic test flights by August 20, 2027. The proposed
operations would occur at or above 24,000 ft Mean Sea Level during
daytime hours.
To satisfy its environmental requirements, in a decision dated
August 20, 2026, FAA relied on and adopted the Department of the Army's
categorical exclusion determination which was based on the Army's
Record of Environmental Consideration (REC) for the petitioner's
request for the special flight authorization for the Quarterhorse
Program Aircraft at WSMR. FAA determined that proposed supersonic test
flights would not significantly affect the quality of the human
environment.
FAA finds the request by the petitioner is well within the intent
of 14 CFR 91.818. As such, FAA granted Hermeus' petition for this
special flight authorization to exceed Mach 1. Authority to exceed Mach
1 during the testing of the Hermeus Mk 2.2 experimental aircraft is
limited to the conditions and limitations stated in the special flight
authorization.
FAA's decision to grant a special flight authorization in response
to Hermeus' petition and the applicable FAA environmental review
document is available on FAA's website. FAA is posting grants of
special flight
[[Page 57956]]
authorizations and applicable FAA environmental review documents on
this website. These documents may be found at: <a href="https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/apl/aee/env_policy/sfa_supersonic">https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/apl/aee/env_policy/sfa_supersonic</a>.
Issued in Washington, DC, on September 8, 2026.
Julie Marks,
Executive Director, Office of Environment and Energy (AEE-1).
[FR Doc. 2026-18523 Filed 9-10-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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