Re:Engine Noise? (Score 1)

Wrong!

Engine noise is irrelevent at those heights, whereas it is significant at takeoff (as we discovered over at JFK Airport).

Sonic booms are the shock waves coming off the airplane's fuselage at speeds greater than Mach 1

. Reduced drag==reduced shockwaves, BUT yes, the real issue is noise, and we'd ordinarily not allow routine sonic booms over North America. Heh, on the other hand, Chimpy and Cheney are always looking for a reason to drop their pants, so the Japanese might get a waiver...