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

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a determination on Saturday addressing marking requirements for President Trump’s proposed Triumphal Arch in Washington, D.C. According to the FAA, the monument would need visible features atop the structure to alert pilots operating in the vicinity.

Among the conditions the agency listed was the installation of a so-called non-standard “eternal flame” at the arch’s summit. The FAA said the marking requirement would also include floodlight projectors aimed toward the… as part of the overall scheme for making the structure conspicuous to aircrews.

The FAA determination ties safety-driven marking and lighting measures to the arch proposal, indicating that aviation considerations will factor into any eventual design or construction decisions. The agency’s language suggests that those measures would be mandatory components of compliance for the project.

The statement provides explicit guidance on how the arch would need to be made visible to pilots, though the excerpt provided does not include the full set of conditions or any broader context about the proposal’s approval status or next steps.