Pilot Says Renaming For Trump Is Dangerous. Seeks To Stop.
PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2026 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A Palm Beach County pilot is suing to stop Palm Beach International Airport for President Donald Trump. The renaming, set to happen over the summer, is unsafe and hugely problematic — according to the pilot. It also allegedly blurs the line between government power in a home-rule county.
George W. Poncy, Jr., an FAA-licensed pilot who regularly flies through PBI-controlled airspace, filed the amended verified complaint last week against the State of Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis, and the Florida Department of Transportation. The lawsuit targets HB 919 — signed into law earlier this year — which mandates PBIA be renamed “President Donald J. Trump International Airport” effective July 1, 2026. Poncy argues the law was rushed through without any coordination with Palm Beach County, the Federal Aviation Administration, or aviation safety officials, and with no cost-benefit analysis. The County, which owns and operates PBIA, was never consulted, he says.
The safety argument is the core of the lawsuit. Poncy says that while the FAA identifier “PBI” would remain unchanged, airport names are deeply embedded in air traffic control communications, navigation databases, and international aviation systems. A state-imposed renaming, according to Poncy, creates a dangerous situation where different systems use different names — a mismatch that could cause miscommunication between pilots and controllers, particularly during high-use or time-sensitive operations. He also claims he will face out-of-pocket costs updating his own aviation software subscriptions and navigational databases. Separately, the complaint notes the total cost of implementing the change statewide is estimated to exceed $5.5 million, with only partial state funding provided.
Poncy is asking the court to declare HB 919 unconstitutional and unlawful on three grounds: that it violates Palm Beach County’s home-rule authority over a locally-owned facility, that it bypasses Florida’s own statutory process for naming public buildings after individuals under Section 267.062 of the Florida Statutes, and that it is arbitrary and capricious because it was enacted without findings, analysis, or reasoned decision-making. He is also seeking a temporary injunction to block the law from taking effect while the case proceeds. Poncy is representing himself in the matter, which was filed April 12 in Palm Beach County Circuit Court. The DeSantis administration has not yet responded to the suit.
Add renaming SR-80 to this lawsuit. The citizens of the state should have a say in this.
And especially the citizens of the county which did NOT vote for him
You do realize you live in a republican state! You people will sue anyone!
The state may be but PB County definitely is not.
Just because republicans are in the majority doesn’t mean they should do anything they want. We may be in the minority but we still have rights, one of which is to sue anybody.
I live in Palm Beach County and i voted for him. TDS is real
Agree Laura! It’s just unreal LOL
I agree Elizabeth. Renaming both the airport and ER-80 are absolutely terrible ideas!
My children were born in Palm Beach, not Donald Trump!
What a shame that politics is taking that away from them and us
The courts have better things to deal with than a severe case TDS!
There are a total of 12 airports named after a president. Nearly one quarter of all US Presidents have had an airport named after them. Florida is 70% RED. Donald J. Trump International Airport (PBI) – West Palm Beach, Florida
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) – New York, New York
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) – Houston, Texas
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) – Washington, DC
Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) – Grand Rapids, Michigan
Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (SPI) – Springfield, Illinois
Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) – Little Rock, Arkansas
Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) – Wichita, Kansas
Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport (DIK) – Dickinson, North Dakota
The difference being until now we didn’t name anything after a living president much less a sitting president.
Sure, but Trump is not “just” a president. Unlike, say, Gerald Ford and G.H.W. Bush, who were alive when the airports were named after them, Trump is LOATHED by a majority of PBC voters. So, IMO, it’s not necessary to rename PBI after him, and further inflame emotions.
Not sure where the 70% Red comment comes from.
Florida’s registered voters broke as follows on March 6, 2026:
– Total Registered voters: 14,944,316
– Democrats: 4,673,459 (31.27%)
– Republicans: 5,750,286 (38.48%)
– Other/Independent: 4,520,571 (30.25%)
If the 70% figure you use is supposed to be from the 2024 election, keep in mind that Florida went:
56.09% Trump
42.99% Harris
…. a 13.1% difference.
Sorry. Not seeing how you arrived at your number.
As one who grew up in Palm Beach County, I am deeply offended by the arrogance of Trump ever since he bought and remuddled a local historical landmark. He has done little to win the hearts of most WPB & County residents and renaming the airport in his “honor” is misguided. There are other airports within reasonable driving distance (often with better fares) so it’s possible that the airport will be another ETTD victim.
If SR80 is to be named for the Donald it should be called The Highway to Hell.
He just keeps winning and you can’t help yourself – Love the hate
Yes and weren’t all those Presidents dead before they were renamed?
Maybe pilots should be suing over safety concerns than the name of an airport. Remember the Potomac River incident? Besides, for natives it will always be PBIA anyway.
Why would anyone name an airport after a disaster? It’s like you’re just tempting fate.
Once he’s dead, maybe rename it?Hopefully that will happen soon.
This is just another waste of taxpayers money. We will only have to pay to have his name removed once he is impeached. Hasn’t he caused enough damage….and named enough buildings/ballrooms/arches and arts centers after himself? He is an embarrassment to Palm Beach County….cannot wait to be rid of him.