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 modifications). 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 angry 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…
When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace turns into a circus.
Yep, a total circus.
Not at all . My map has always shown Mt. McKinley , and there is no change . Similarly , Mt. Washington , continues to be called Mt. Washington .
Trump says “Yeah , it’s Mt. McKinley” . So what ?
Oh boy. Bluesky posts in the comments section incoming.
*popcorn*
Let’s see how the comment section devolves
Well , I just checked my National Geographic map , and it continues to show Mt. McKinley . No change .
I couldn’t care less as to what the names are but what a waste of time and money to makes these changes. And that goes for when they were changed previously.
I mean what’s the point?
It’s amazing how this administration is all for supposedly getting rid of wasteful spending, but just does constant wasteful spending like this. What a clown show.
Trojan horse. His base gets all excited because they don’t care about Native Americans or respecting women pilots. The opposition gets riled up. Everyone is distracted while real change happens. Shock doctorine basics. Meanwhile, planes fall out of the sky.
Pretty much.
@Sam
Yet they care about Americans and Jews being held hostage abroad. If all aren’t returned by the Saturday noon deadline the U.S. will attack Iran and Hamas. Biden was typically asleep by noon ; a deadline routinely met.
I think the Santa Ana Winds should be renamed the “Davy Crockett Winds.” Remember the Alamo.
Don’t we all have something more to get excited about? Yes the circus is in town, but I must shovel snow.
So Doge dude throws out stupid non sequiturs of the foil hat variety rather than responding to valid criticism. Sounds about right for this administration.
So, does John Mellencamp need to change the lyrics to Pink Houses:
“And vacation down at the Gulf of Mexico
Ooh, yeah!!”
I’m just laughing how MAGA was all about rallying against wokeisms. And now here we are…they are just as bad as the far left.
P.T. Barnum would be proud. America is now, “The Greatest Show on Earth.” A circus run by 5th graders on both sides of the spectrum.
As PT said. There’s a sucker born every minute!
Agree totally. Good thing we have an executive order saying plastic straws are good again. Main reason I paid attention during the election.
Anyone getting riled up about “Notice to Airmen” vs. “Notice to Air Missions” — whether left or right — needs to get a grip. Both actions are virtue signaling woke-isms, just pandering to different audiences.
It would be nice if Sec. Duffy and the FAA focused on modernizing the air traffic system (like actually modernizing it, not just allowing Elon and his three 20-year olds in a trench coat to root around in the server room), improving safety, and increasing oversight. All of these things are more sane than renaming geographical landmarks and fighting with Hillary Clinton on Twitter.
Just so you know, the rest of the world is still calling it the Gulf of Mexico, and that ain’t go’n change.