The FAA green lights Trump's arch in Washington, but requires an 'eternal flame' to alert pilots
The agency concluded that the planned 76-meter monument near Ronald Reagan National Airport does not pose a danger to air operations. The project, however, still faces zoning reviews and a legal battle.
Trump, presenting the Arc de Triomphe he wants to build in Washington, D.C.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) concluded that the gigantic triumphal arch proposed by President Donald Trump in Washington does not pose a danger to aviation, although it established a series of conditions to ensure the structure can be easily identified by pilots.
Among these is the installation of a "non-standard eternal flame" at the top of the monument, as well as a system of spotlights that must permanently illuminate the structure from various points at its base.
The monument would stand approximately 250 feet, about 76 meters, tall and would be located at Memorial Circle, on Columbia Island, at the western end of the Arlington Memorial Bridge and very close to Arlington National Cemetery. The official project documents indicate that the structure would be built of reinforced concrete clad in granite and crowned with sculptural figures.
The arch is part of the projects promoted by the Trump Administration to mark the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. The National Park Service describes the structure as a monumental structure intended to commemorate the country's 250th anniversary and to reinforce the ceremonial character of the corridor linking Washington to Arlington National Cemetery.
The FAA rules out any risk to flights
The monument's location had raised concerns due to its proximity to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and the flight paths used by aircraft taking off and landing there.
After analyzing the airspace, traffic patterns, and procedures at area airports, FAA specialists determined that the arch "would have no substantial adverse effect" on the use of airspace or on the airport's navigation systems, according to a report by CBS News.
The assessment states that aircraft must maintain a minimum altitude of 780 feet, about 238 meters, above the area where the monument would be erected, which would leave approximately 488 feet, 149 meters, between the aircraft and the top of the arch, according to Reuters.
The agency also stipulated that it must be notified at least ten days before construction formally begins. Any significant changes to the height or the plans will have to be resubmitted to the FAA.
In previous assessments, the installation of flashing red lights similar to those used to signal other elevated obstacles had been proposed. The final decision replaced that requirement with continuous lighting and the so-called "eternal flame."
The project has not yet received final approval
On July 9, the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) approved the preliminary site and construction plans, but left several conditions pending before conducting its final review. The commission itself notes that the project will return for final approval once those conditions are met.
For its part, the National Park Service conducted an assessment of the project's potential effects on historic properties in the area. In its revised analysis dated Aug. 28, the agency concluded that the construction would have an "adverse effect" on one or more historic properties in the area.
The NPS also prepared an environmental assessment and a statement of no significant environmental impact. However, the agency itself expressly warns that this determination "does not constitute a final decision or an approval of the project."
A battle in the courts as well
The project also faces legal opposition. A group of veterans of the Vietnam War went to court to try to prevent work from beginning, arguing, among other points, that the project lacks congressional authorization and would affect the historic corridor between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
The legal dispute intensified after the government announced in early September its intention to begin excavation work at Memorial Circle.
Despite these controversies, the FAA's decision resolves one of the main technical concerns surrounding the project: its compatibility with air operations at one of the busiest and most sensitive airports in the U.S. capital.
LATEST
