The Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A.) has assessed a proposal from the Trump administration to construct a 259-foot-tall arch near Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport. The assessment indicates the structure would likely not pose risks to aviation safety if certain measures are taken.

The F.A.A. recommends adding red, blinking obstruction lights to the design, akin to those on the Washington Monument. This is standard for structures located near airports. According to the evaluators’ feasibility study, such a feature would ensure the structure has no significant adverse effects on airspace or navigation.

While the F.A.A. must conduct a formal evaluation before construction can proceed, the study suggests approval is plausible, potentially easing bureaucratic barriers. This arch, termed the “triumphal arch” by President Trump, forms part of broader efforts to alter the visual landscape of the nation’s capital.

There is debate among aviation experts about the arch’s impact on aircraft operations at Reagan National Airport. This airspace has drawn safety concerns following a collision between a commercial jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter last year, resulting in 67 fatalities.

A New York Times analysis revealed the arch’s peak would intrude into an airspace zone ideally kept free for air traffic. Any intrusion requires F.A.A. scrutiny to verify safe construction. As noted in the study, the arch is classified as an obstruction, necessitating the installation of red obstruction lights.

The initial study further asserts that, with these lights, the arch would neither disrupt air traffic nor necessitate changes in flight routes.

Projects exceeding 200 feet need formal evaluations to assess flight hazard risks. The released feasibility study, though voluntary, provides non-binding recommendations.

The report clarifies that this initial evaluation does not equate to a guarantee of no air navigation threats. A comprehensive aeronautical study is essential before finalizing the arch’s design.

This article’s original version by Karoun Demirjian appeared in The New York Times, with the print edition featured in Section A, Page 14 under the headline ‘F.A.A. Recommends Blinking Red Lights on Planned Trump Arch.’