The skies over Mar-a-Lago could soon be under permanent federal protection.
The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing special flight rules around President Donald Trump’s Palm Beach residence, citing “adverse threat intelligence” and persistent risks from unauthorized aircraft and drones.
Requested by the U.S. Secret Service, the new security zone would cover a one-nautical-mile radius around Mar-a-Lago and extend up to 2,000 feet.
The location presents a major challenge. Trump’s estate sits directly in the flight path of President Donald J. Trump International Airport, formerly Palm Beach International Airport.
Commercial flights would still be allowed through the restricted airspace, provided pilots follow established routes and comply with air traffic control instructions. Without that exception, the airport’s primary runway would be virtually unusable.
Emergency, lifesaving and law enforcement aircraft would also be permitted to enter, but pilots would need prior authorization, continuous two-way radio contact with air traffic control and an assigned transponder code.
The permanent rules would apply when Trump is away from Palm Beach. When the president is at Mar-a-Lago, the FAA would continue imposing the larger and far more restrictive temporary flight restrictions that have repeatedly affected airport operations and nearby communities.
The Secret Service said the new rules would strengthen its ability to counter ongoing threats from unauthorized aircraft and unmanned drone systems near the president’s private residence.
The proposal is open for public comment through Oct. 2. The FAA has not announced when a final decision will be made.
