Trump plans military complex inside proposed triumphal arch near Arlington
The FAA said pilots would have to fly at least 780 feet above the area around the arch, or at least 488 feet above the top of the proposed structure. The National Park Service has said construction could require cranes reaching 300 to 320 feet and could continue for up to 20 hours a day for two to three years.
Trump has also described the new White House ballroom as a “military complex” and said it serves national security purposes. The Federal Aviation Administration said on Friday that the proposed arch would not pose a hazard to aircraft, although it would be required to have an “eternal flame” on top. The agency had previously said the arch would require red obstruction lights but later said those would no longer be necessary. Veterans have sued to block the proposed arch, arguing that it would destroy the historic sightline between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, according to Reuters.
The FAA determination requires a light on top of the structure and floodlight projectors directed at the arch to make it visible to pilots. US Senator Tammy Duckworth, the top Democrat on the Senate aviation subcommittee, had urged the FAA in June to reject the project, citing potential risks to commercial flights. US President Donald Trump on Sunday said he had agreed to convert a proposed triumphal arch near the Arlington Memorial Bridge in Washington into a military complex for national security purposes, saying it would be used to house and deploy drones and snipers and store ammunition.