WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — A Florida pilot has filed a lawsuit seeking to stop a new state law that would rename Palm Beach International Airport after President Donald J. Trump, arguing the mandate improperly overrides local authority, creates safety concerns within the national aviation system, and may be impossible to implement as written.

George W. Poncy Jr., an FAA-licensed pilot based in Palm Beach County, filed the lawsuit Thursday in Palm Beach County Circuit Court against the State of Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis in his official capacity, and the Florida Department of Transportation. Poncy is asking the court to declare House Bill 919 unlawful and to block its enforcement before it is scheduled to take effect on July 1.

HB 919, signed by DeSantis in late March, requires Palm Beach International Airport to be renamed “President Donald J. Trump International Airport.” The law also directs relevant federal agencies to update references to the airport’s name and includes a provision calling for the adoption of a new airport identifier, “DJT,” in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration and the International Air Transport Association.

According to Poncy’s complaint, the Legislature overstepped by mandating a specific naming outcome for a county-owned and locally operated facility. Palm Beach International Airport is owned and managed by Palm Beach County, and decisions related to airport administration and identity have historically been handled at the local level. Poncy argues that by forcing a renaming, the state unlawfully intrudes on powers traditionally reserved for local governments under Florida law.

The lawsuit also raises aviation safety concerns, focusing on how airport names are embedded throughout the federally regulated aviation system. Airport identifiers and names appear in air traffic control communications, navigational charts, flight planning software, and emergency systems. Poncy contends that a state-imposed name change could lead to asynchronous updates across those systems, creating confusion for pilots and controllers operating in busy South Florida airspace.

The FAA has stated that airport name changes are considered a local matter and do not require agency approval, but the agency must still complete administrative steps such as updating navigational charts and databases. The FAA has also said it will coordinate with organizations like IATA regarding any potential identifier changes.

Poncy claims he would face unrecoverable costs to update aviation software, databases, and flight-planning tools as a result of the renaming. He argues those costs, combined with what he describes as increased risk of miscommunication during flight operations, constitute concrete and imminent harm justifying court intervention.

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In addition to safety and governance issues, the complaint questions whether the law can be carried out at all. HB 919 conditions the renaming on the acquisition of perpetual, unrestricted, and cost-free rights to use the designated airport name. Public trademark filings show the Trump Organization has sought protection for the name “President Donald J. Trump International Airport” in connection with various travel-related goods, raising questions about third-party control of naming rights. The statute, Poncy argues, offers no mechanism to ensure those rights can be obtained or what happens if they cannot.

Supporters of the renaming, including Republican lawmakers and members of the Trump family, have cited President Trump’s longtime ties to Palm Beach County and his frequent travel to his Mar-a-Lago residence. Following the bill’s signing, Eric Trump praised the move publicly and thanked DeSantis and state lawmakers for advancing the legislation.

Reaction among travelers has been mixed. Some passengers interviewed by CBS12 questioned the cost of rebranding the airport and whether public funds would be better spent elsewhere, while others said they welcomed the change and viewed it as a point of local pride.

CBS12 wants to know, “What concerns you most about the airport renaming, if any?” VOTE BELOW.

The outcome could potentially determine whether the county is required to implement the state directive.

A hearing date has not yet been set.