Trump's 250-foot arch gets FAA approval

The Trump administration received clearance to build a monument at Memorial Circle, a traffic island on the bridge connecting Arlington to D.C., just two miles from Reagan National Airport's main runway.

Planes pass overhead constantly

An enormous number of aircraft descend over the proposed arch site every 45 to 60 seconds all day until 11 p.m., making it one of the busiest flight paths in the country.

“An enormous number of airplanes come over that site, basically every 45 to 60 seconds all day long 'til 11 at night.”

FAA requires special lighting

The FAA determined the arch won't be a hazard if it has a non-standard eternal flame on top and three floodlights around the base to make it visible to pilots.

Bright lights could distract pilots

A former FAA aviation safety expert warned that the bright lights could pose a distraction to pilots, comparing it to driving with oncoming traffic's bright lights on.

“DC and other areas have had bad experiences with pilots' vision being affected by high-power lights, especially lasers.”

Experts say arch adds risk

Three aviation safety experts told NPR the arch itself likely won't pose significant risk to most aircraft, but it adds another variable to an already crowded and complicated airspace.

D.C. airspace is notoriously complex

Reagan National is a small airport with one runway nestled in a metropolitan area surrounded by prohibited airspace near the White House and Capitol, making it one of the most difficult to navigate.

“It's a small airport with one runway, nestled in a metropolitan area that's surrounded by prohibited airspace.”

January 2025 collision killed 67

A midair collision between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near D.C. killed 67 people, highlighting the dangers of the congested airspace.

Airport was never designed for this traffic

Reagan National, which opened in 1941, was designed for about 15 million passengers annually but now serves closer to 25 million, leaving little margin for error.

Controllers face impossible timing

As traffic density increases, air traffic controllers must make transmissions every five to seven seconds, leaving insufficient time to make safe decisions.

“There reaches a point where there aren't enough seconds left to make the right decision.”

Landing approach is already treacherous

Pilots landing on Runway 19 must follow the Potomac River and make a sharp 40-degree turn at less than 500 feet altitude to avoid prohibited airspace, requiring special training.

Arch would be visible to landing pilots

The arch would sit just a few hundred yards to the right of the flight path, appearing imposing and dramatic but unlikely to cause pilots to mistake it or get too close.

“That arch is going to be just a few hundred yards, maybe two or three football fields to the right of where your flight path is.”

Helicopters fly lower than the arch

Helicopters operate as low as 200 feet in some areas, below the 250-foot arch height, creating a potential hazard that could further complicate an already dangerous airspace.

Wind and darkness increase risk

The Runway 19 approach becomes trickier in dark or windy conditions, and a plane flying lower than intended during strong easterly winds could be blown into the arch.

August incident shows ongoing risks

A military helicopter carrying President Trump briefly flew too close to a passenger jet leaving D.C. in early August, with investigators finding that White House construction contributed to radio problems.

FAA faces conflict of interest concerns

The FAA both operates the air traffic control system and regulates aviation safety, creating a potential conflict of interest unique among developed nations.

“Nobody's watching the watchers.”

Review process was unusually fast

The FAA circulated the arch study for public comment on July 28 and closed comments on September 3, releasing its determination just over two weeks later.

“So, there is something to the saying, 'It's who you know.'”

President could override FAA decision

Even if the FAA had determined the arch was a hazard, the president could instruct the transportation secretary to issue a waiver, since the FAA lacks land-use authority.

“The president can simply instruct his transportation secretary to write a waiver for that, to ignore that.”

Final approval still pending

The National Capital Planning Commission has granted preliminary approvals and is poised to consider the arch for final approval in the coming months.