By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON, Sept 1 (Reuters) – The Federal Aviation Administration said on Tuesday it is proposing special flight rules near Trump International Airport in Palm Beach, Florida, citing security concerns about U.S. President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence.
The FAA is proposing restrictions on flights in a one-nautical-mile radius and up to 2,000 feet around the Palm Beach residence, which is close to the airport.
The U.S. Secret Service sought the restrictions, citing adverse threat intelligence, and said the moves would “greatly increase the ability to mitigate the persistent risks posed by unauthorized aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems,” the FAA said.
The FAA imposes expanded restrictions when the president or vice president travels outside Washington, and will continue to impose broader restrictions when Trump is at Mar-a-Lago.
The FAA will allow commercial airplanes into the airspace as long as they follow the established rules. Without the exception, it would essentially make the primary runway at the Palm Beach airport unusable.
The FAA will also allow emergency, lifesaving and law enforcement aircraft access. For those operations, pilots would need to remain in two-way radio communication with air traffic control and have received authorization to enter.
In July, Palm Beach International Airport was officially renamed President Donald J. Trump International Airport, the latest in a series of buildings and government programs named after the president.
The FAA has previously prohibited the operation of aircraft in the vicinity of seven presidential and vice presidential residences, most recently in 2001 near of Crawford, Texas, where former president George W. Bush owns a ranch. Those restrictions remain in effect, though their boundary was reduced in 2010.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Mark Porter and Kevin Liffey)
