FAA finds planned Washington arch no hazard, sets marking rules

The Federal Aviation Administration has determined that a proposed 250-foot triumphal arch near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport would not be a hazard to aircraft, as long as it carries lighting and markings that make it easy for pilots to see.

The agency issued its final determination on Sept. 18 after reviewing how the arch would affect airspace and flight operations around the airport and other military and public-use fields nearby. The structure is planned for Memorial Circle, near the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery and about 3,000 feet from the airport, inside a busy approach and departure corridor.

FAA safety specialists found no substantial adverse effect on the use of the airport's airspace or its navigation facilities, the agency said. Aircraft in the area must stay at an altitude leaving about 488 feet of clearance above the top of the planned arch.

The determination carries conditions. The arch must be topped with a non-standard eternal flame and kept continuously illuminated by floodlights around its base, so it stands out to pilots given its position near the airport's flight paths. Red obstruction lights, required in an earlier review, are no longer among the conditions.

The review followed public concern about pilot workload and the crowded airspace around Washington. According to the agency, air traffic patterns and procedures at the airport and neighbouring fields were taken into account.

The aviation finding is not final approval for the broader project. It may be challenged until Oct. 18, after which it becomes final.