FAA Updates Guidance On NOTAMs, Mt. McKinley, And “Gulf Of America”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is updating its pilot language…and map book in a move that President Trump says is to “honor American greatness.”
FAA Updates Language On NOTAMs, Gulf Of America, Mt. McKinley, As It Prepares For Musk + DOGE
During his second inaugural address, President Trump announced he was renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. North and South America are named after Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci, who explored the “New World” for Spain and Portugal in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He also announced that he was changing the name of Denali to Mount McKinley, speaking fondly of the imperialist-era president.
Denali is the highest mountain peak in North America. Local people called it Denali but after the presidency and assassination of McKinley, the name was changed to Mt. McKinley from 1917 to 2015. President Obama designated the mountain as Denali and now Trump has re-designated it as Mount McKinley via executive order.
The FAA is now updating its data charts:
Please be advised that the FAA is in the process of updating our data and charts to show a name change from the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and a name change from Denali to Mount McKinley. This will be targeted for the next publication cycle.
This Charting Notice implements President Trump’s direction in Executive Order 14172, “restoring Names That Honor American Greatness,” that the names be changed.
In line with my commitment to restoring sanity to @USDOT, the FAA will resume using the term “Notice to Airmen” instead of “Notice to Air Missions.”
Also, pilot charts will now reference the Gulf of America and Mt. McKinley. Thanks to President Trump, we are taking back our… pic.twitter.com/kUXcszogg3
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) February 11, 2025
Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says, “Thanks to President Trump, we are taking back our language, our history, and our country.”
But that’s not all.
The FAA is also updating what NOTAM stands for. Historically, NOTAM meant “Notice to Airmen.” President Biden changed NOTAM to mean “Notice to Air Missions” in 2021. NOTAMs are how the FAA transmits safety advisories to pilots (things like runway closures or other temporary hazards or closures). The FAA is reverting to Airmen:
Effective immediately, the term Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) is being changed to Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), and the title of FAA Order 7930.2 is being changed to “Notice to Airmen NOTAM.” All directives/publications referring to FAA Order 7930.2 must be updated as soon as practicable to reflect the order’s title. FAA Order 7930.2 will be updated as quickly as possible to reflect this change.
And that’s just the start…
Meanwhile, Duffy has been busy battling Hillary Clinton on X. Duffy also announced that DOGE, the so-called Department of Government Efficiency headed by Elon Musk, will be coming in to “upgrade our aviation system” which led to an agnry response from Clinton.
They have no relevant experience.
Most of them aren’t old enough to rent a car.
And you’re going to let them mess with airline safety that’s already deteriorated on your watch? pic.twitter.com/l0fFTrYMG2
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 5, 2025
Duffy took the bait and a “discussion” ensued:
I know you’re lashing out because DOGE is uncovering your family’s obscene grifting via USAID, but I won’t let you lie and distort facts. The FAA administrator announced he resigned over a month before Trump took office, and the air traffic controllers were always exempt from… https://t.co/WOI5K4242D
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) February 6, 2025
It has been a busy week in the Transportation Department…