The FAA is placing a priority on supporting the emergence of supersonic technologies, but the agency must apply appropriate regulatory and environmental safeguards, said a key agency official. "Our focus…has been how we can support the reemergence of supersonic aircraft from a regulatory perspective to ensure that, as technology advances, the FAA is putting in place the necessary regulatory changes," said Kevin Welsch, executive director of the FAA's Office of Environment and Energy during a recent American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Aviation Forum.