A method for controlling an automatic descent of a vehicle, the method comprising: determining whether a descent trigger condition is present; and in response to determining that the descent trigger condition is present, performing an automatic descent process, the automatic descent process including: obtaining clearance data from an on-board system of the vehicle, comprising: requesting and receiving the clearance data (or portions thereof) from one or more of: a ground proximity warning system of the vehicle, a weather system, and/or a data server, and wherein the clearance data includes one or combinations of: terrain data indicating an altitude of ground level from sea level; weather data indicating three-dimensional regions of weather and/or predicted weather; population data indicating population density or distribution; and/or supersonic flight restrictions; generating a descent plan based on the clearance data, the descent plan including a supersonic-to-subsonic transition to a target altitude and/or a supersonic-descent to the target altitude; wherein generating the descent plan based on the clearance data includes: selecting a descent maneuver; checking the selected descent maneuver based on the clearance data to determine whether the selected descent maneuver is acceptable; and in response to determining that the selected descent maneuver is acceptable, confirming the selected descent maneuver as a confirmed descent maneuver; and generating actuator instructions to control the vehicle to descend to the target altitude based on the descent plan. determining whether a descent trigger condition is present; and in response to determining that the descent trigger condition is present, performing an automatic descent process, the automatic descent process including: obtaining clearance data from an on-board system of the vehicle, comprising: requesting and receiving the clearance data (or portions thereof) from one or more of: a ground proximity warning system of the vehicle, a weather system, and/or a data server, and wherein the clearance data includes one or combinations of: terrain data indicating an altitude of ground level from sea level; weather data indicating three-dimensional regions of weather and/or predicted weather; population data indicating population density or distribution; and/or supersonic flight restrictions; generating a descent plan based on the clearance data, the descent plan including a supersonic-to-subsonic transition to a target altitude and/or a supersonic-descent to the target altitude; wherein generating the descent plan based on the clearance data includes: selecting a descent maneuver; checking the selected descent maneuver based on the clearance data to determine whether the selected descent maneuver is acceptable; and in response to determining that the selected descent maneuver is acceptable, confirming the selected descent maneuver as a confirmed descent maneuver; and generating actuator instructions to control the vehicle to descend to the target altitude based on the descent plan. obtaining clearance data from an on-board system of the vehicle, comprising: requesting and receiving the clearance data (or portions thereof) from one or more of: a ground proximity warning system of the vehicle, a weather system, and/or a data server, and wherein the clearance data includes one or combinations of: terrain data indicating an altitude of ground level from sea level; weather data indicating three-dimensional regions of weather and/or predicted weather; population data indicating population density or distribution; and/or supersonic flight restrictions; requesting and receiving the clearance data (or portions thereof) from one or more of: a ground proximity warning system of the vehicle, a weather system, and/or a data server, and wherein the clearance data includes one or combinations of: terrain data indicating an altitude of ground level from sea level; weather data indicating three-dimensional regions of weather and/or predicted weather; population data indicating population density or distribution; and/or supersonic flight restrictions; generating a descent plan based on the clearance data, the descent plan including a supersonic-to-subsonic transition to a target altitude and/or a supersonic-descent to the target altitude; wherein generating the descent plan based on the clearance data includes: selecting a descent maneuver; checking the selected descent maneuver based on the clearance data to determine whether the selected descent maneuver is acceptable; and in response to determining that the selected descent maneuver is acceptable, confirming the selected descent maneuver as a confirmed descent maneuver; and selecting a descent maneuver; checking the selected descent maneuver based on the clearance data to determine whether the selected descent maneuver is acceptable; and in response to determining that the selected descent maneuver is acceptable, confirming the selected descent maneuver as a confirmed descent maneuver; and generating actuator instructions to control the vehicle to descend to the target altitude based on the descent plan.