FAA Begins Aeronautical Study of Proposed 250-Foot Arch Near Reagan National Airport

The Trump administration has asked the Federal Aviation Administration to evaluate the risks of building a proposed 250-foot arch less than two miles from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, one of the busiest airports in the country. According to documents obtained by CNN, the Department of Interior submitted a formal request through the National Parks Service for an aeronautical study of the structure.

The arch would be located in a patch of grass at the end of Memorial Bridge, across from the Lincoln Memorial. When site elevation is included, the total height reaches 279 feet. FAA regulations require a review for any structure taller than 200 feet that could interfere with airspace.

The agency has said it aims to complete these reviews within 45 to 90 days, although they often take longer and can extend up to nine months. The FAA acknowledged receipt of the request, confirmed it had begun the study, and declined to provide a specific timeline.

Pilots already follow a north approach flight path that requires them to maneuver around the Pentagon, the Washington Monument and other landmarks in the area. The addition of the arch would introduce another obstacle in a corridor that sees more than 900 commercial flights daily at Reagan National Airport.

The airspace has been the site of prior accidents, including a midair collision last year between an American Airlines plane and a Black Hawk helicopter as well as a 1982 crash into the 14th Street Bridge shortly after takeoff.

Construction Process Plans for the arch must also receive approval from the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission, the two agencies that oversee federal construction projects in Washington. A source close to the committees told CNN there are questions about whether the review will fully consider aviation risks.

The committee stated it would follow the same approach used for other projects but has not yet set a timeline for its review. Typically, an obstruction analysis request is submitted 45 days before construction begins. Officials can proceed with the project without a final FAA determination.

The FAA's Obstruction Evaluation Group will examine runway length, airport elevation, the structure's exact coordinates, ground elevation, and whether construction cranes would temporarily exceed the arch's height. The group will consult with the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and branches of the armed forces.

If the study identifies a hazard, the administration would have 60 days to modify the project. Possible changes include reducing the height or adding hazard lighting to increase visibility to aircraft. Construction timelines remain unclear. The project is intended to commemorate the nation's 250th birthday.