FAA says proposed Trump arch will require ‘eternal flame’ on top to alert pilots

FAA Says Proposed Trump Arch Needs Eternal Flame for Pilot Visibility

Provpnadvice.com – The FAA says proposed Trump arch near Arlington Memorial Bridge would not create an aviation hazard, provided the monument includes a non-standard “eternal flame” at its summit and lighting designed to make it visible to pilots. The agency’s determination followed a review of aircraft activity in the heavily managed airspace around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration’s finding addresses air safety rather than the project’s architectural, historical or public-policy merits. Other review processes will consider those wider issues if the proposal advances.

FAA Calls for Flame and Floodlighting

According to the agency, the proposed structure must be marked with an eternal flame and floodlight projectors directed toward the arch. The FAA says proposed Trump arch would need these visibility measures so pilots can readily identify the monument from the air.

“The FAA’s determination includes conditions for the Arch to be appropriately marked with a non-standard eternal flame on top of the structure and floodlight projectors pointed towards the Arch to make it noticeable for pilots.”

An earlier FAA position had indicated that conventional red obstruction lights, like those on the Washington Monument, could be required. The final hazard determination instead identifies the flame and illumination plan as the required markings.

In correspondence with the National Park Service, the FAA said accompanying searchlight projectors should provide an average illumination of at least 15 foot-candles, or 161.46 lux, over the upper third of the structure. The purpose is to keep the arch’s highest section conspicuous to aircraft operating nearby.

A Monument Along Arlington Memorial Bridge

The arch is proposed for Arlington Memorial Bridge, the ceremonial route connecting Washington, D.C., and Arlington, Virginia. The bridge is associated with post-Civil War reconciliation and links the Lincoln Memorial with the area surrounding Arlington National Cemetery.

If built at the proposed scale, the monument would become the world’s largest triumphal arch. It would be taller than Mexico City’s 220-foot Monumento a la Revolución and Paris’s 164-foot Arc de Triomphe.

Its size is central to both the proposal’s appeal and the aviation review. A highly visible new landmark in Washington’s memorial landscape would also need to be identifiable to pilots navigating nearby airport routes, restricted airspace and prominent existing monuments.

Historic Setting Draws Objections

While the FAA says proposed Trump arch can proceed from an aviation-safety perspective with the specified markings, opposition has focused on its effect on the historic landscape. A veterans group launched a campaign against the plan, arguing that the structure would disrupt the view between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

“Entirely inappropriate and borders on sacrilege to the men and women buried” at the cemetery.

The National Park Service issued an assessment in August that found the arch would adversely affect dozens of historic places, including by blocking or changing important views. Nearly 40 locations were identified after the agency requested comments from outside organizations.

Sites named in the assessment include the Pentagon, Washington Monument, U.S. Capitol, National Mall Site, Lincoln Memorial, Robert E. Lee Memorial and Lyndon B. Johnson Memorial Grove. The findings show that the project faces considerations beyond aviation, including preservation of nationally significant landmarks and sightlines.

Washington, D.C., FAQ

Would the FAA decision mean the arch has been approved for construction?

No. The FAA determination concerns whether the proposed structure would be a hazard to aircraft. It does not resolve historic-preservation, visual-impact or other review questions connected to the project.

Why does a monument near Arlington Memorial Bridge need aviation markings?

The site is close to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and within a complex urban airspace environment. The FAA’s conditions are intended to help pilots see the structure clearly.

What lighting would be required?

The FAA’s conditions call for a non-standard eternal flame on top of the arch and floodlight projectors aimed at the monument. The upper third of the structure would need to meet the specified illumination level.

What are the principal concerns raised by opponents?

Critics have emphasized the potential effect on views between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, as well as broader impacts on Washington’s historic memorial landscape.