Governor Kelly and Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz announced Wednesday that an agreement was finalized between KDOT and the Federal Aviation Administration to establish the Kansas Supersonic Transportation Corridor (SSTC).

The SSTC will be used to test non-military aircraft that fly faster than the speed of sound.

Kelly said the new opportunity would continue to solidify the state’s reputation as a national leader in the aviation industry, adding that the SSTC would attract companies that develop supersonic aircraft and encourage economic development.

KDOT Secretary Julie Lorenz spoke on the collaboration of Kansas Senator Jerry Moran, who was involved with coordinating with the FAA, NASA, the Air Route Traffic Control Center, and the National Institute of Aviation Research at Wichita State.  Lorenz herself chairs the Aviation Committee for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

The Kansas Supersonic Transportation Corridor is a racetrack-shaped corridor at or above 39,000 feet that stretches 770 nautical miles. It is entirely federal airspace that runs the length of the state of Kansas, just north of the Kansas-Oklahoma border.

The route will support flight up to Mach 3, with numerous airports available to provide fuel, as well as ground and technical support.

Bob Brock–the KDOT Director of Aviation–said that the corridor will provide companies like Boeing and Lockheed Martin the necessary airspace to effectively test aircraft that may reduce the impact of sound on communities in the area.

The FAA and Kansas State Officials that data obtained from the SSTC will aid policymakers in making rulings on issues that will propel the aviation industry forward. The FAA recently proposed a new rule that updates procedures for requesting special authorizations to operate at supersonic speeds over the United States.