Dca

[Dachiri]

Hi Capt. Hutch!

I noticed on another thread that you mentioned you fly in and out of DCA regularly. Purely curiosity, but do you know how flight traffic control works at DCA with some of the more "unique" situations that DC has? For example, when the President comes in on Marine 1. It was my understanding that they don't readily announce when he's about the fly in, and from seeing him fly in before, it looks like the path of Marine 1 would interfere with the takeoff/landing patterns over the Mall. Do they tell air traffic control when he's approaching? What about all the military helicopters I see buzzing around over the Potomac? Do they have pre-set flight paths so that they won't interfere with traffic from DCA? Again, just curious.

[Captain Hutch]

Hi Dachiri,

Your inquisitiveness has touched upon a bit of a sore spot here--good for you for bringing attention to a small though not insignificant problem. I'll give you my perspective, as always.

A goodly portion of our approaches into Washington National Airport--"Ronald Reagan George Washington National Airport" is my personal moniker for the aerodrome, since I have always thought that we should not completely forego one's namesake for another--are visual approaches either up or down the Potomac River, depending upon whether the landing direction is north or south.

The Mount Vernon Visual Approach is basically a straight-in approach whereby we pick up visual contact with the river at about 10 miles to the south, ensuring that our flight path remains over the river, pass by George's Mount Vernon estate on the west bank of the Potomac, fly over the Wilson Bridge just to the south of the airport, and either land on runway one or runway 33 depending on the winds.

When landing to the south, we usually begin at a point 10 miles to the northwest, located over the American Legion Bridge, the former "Cabin John", at the Potomac River. We maintain our flight path over the Potomac, flying over Chain Bridge (5 mile point), staying between the USA Today building on the right and the Kennedy Center on the left, keeping the Lincoln Memorial, which is at the west end of the Washington Mall (comprised of the Lincoln Memorial at the west end and the Capitol at the east end with the Washington monument and reflecting pool in between) off to the left, following the river until abeam the Jefferson Memorial, making about a 30 degree right turn over the 14th street bridge, rolling out and touching down on the approach end of runway 19. The east bank of the river where all the memorials are located is part of the restricted no-fly area, so flying even just over the bank is a no-no.

The Mount Vernon Visual approach is pretty much a "piece-of-cake", whereas the approach to the south, the "River Visual Approach" is a bit trickier. I liken it to some of the tactical strafing patterns that I used to fly in the fighters. Our average approach speeds are around 150mph though, somewhat slower than the fighters. You can follow these flight paths yourself if you have "Google Earth" installed on your computer.

Basically I have the same perspective as you regards to the "buzzing helicopters", only I am looking down at them instead of up. These eggbeaters usually fly low over the water and I never know when or where they will be except that ATC calls them out to me as I make the approach. I am sure that the helicopters have to maintain visual contact with the airliners wherever the choppers are going, although I have no knowledge of where they go or from where they originate. Occasionally ATC will miss a callout, though I am always on the alert for them so it is not so much of a problem. For the most part the helicopters stay away from the immediate area of the approach and departure ends of the runway, though once or twice I have had a problem--not enough to have to alter my flight path but enough to get my attention on whether I might have to go around or not.

It is rather irritating to me that I have to spend some of my time during the approach looking for aircraft that otherwise might not be there, especially ones that are flying below me and near my flight path, all with ATC's permission. I can't imagine other airports putting up with this as a day to day operation. Although, as far as I know all of these types of operations are conducted in VMC (Visual Meteorological Conditions, i.e. under VFR, Visual Flight Rules), as opposed to "in the weather", IFR.

I wouldn't know if any of the aircraft are carrying the President, since ATC does not identify the aircraft as such to me.

Thanks for bringing up a little known subject, and I hope my comments helped to relieve a little of your curiosity!

Hutch :tiphat:

[Dachiri]

Thanks Capt. Hutch!

I've only ever flown out of DCA once, and we were going to JFK so we didn't fly over the Mall. But I live and work near the Mall, so I see the helicopters and (occasionally) the Pres. buzzing about and thought that can't be fun. It's hard to get a clear perspective of just how close together the planes and helicopters are, though, so it is reassuring to know that they make the choppers keep their distance from the runways.

While my fear is still present enough that it freaks me out a bit, I also kind of enjoy crossing the 14th Street Bridge or driving the GW Parkway, as it literally looks like the planes are going to land on top of you! I try not to leave the District of Columbia proper except under the most extreme of circumstances (;)), but I know of the park at the end of the runway at DCA, and maybe I'll check that out sometime.

[Barb-SAN]

Here are some cool photos from jetphotos.net

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5904361&nseq=15

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5650032&nseq=32

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=132883&nseq=43

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6375973&nseq=1

Somewhere on the forum we had a discussion about flying to DCA, and the different approaches, and I think I posted links to YouTube videos. Can't seem to locate the post now...

[Barb-SAN]

whereas the approach to the south, the "River Visual Approach" is a bit trickier. I liken it to some of the tactical strafing patterns that I used to fly in the fighters.
Hutch :tiphat:

Hmmm...how pilots amuse themselves on "routine" flights? ;)

Thanks for the explanations!

[Dachiri]

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=132883&nseq=43

If I squint really hard, I think I can see my house. :D

[tusphotog]

Somewhere on the forum we had a discussion about flying to DCA, and the different approaches, and I think I posted links to YouTube videos. Can't seem to locate the post now...

Are these the videos you were talking about?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivAMw1bGRcM (Airbus--the alarm noise in the beginning of the video is the autopilot disconnect)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfepKB1qbEk (Some sort of regional jet)

[Barb-SAN]

Are these the videos you were talking about?
Thanks, I think the first one was in that thread. I don't recall seeing the second one before. It looks like the video camera was mounted so the pilot didn't have to do anything more than turn it on...hmmm would have liked to see that setup! :)
Seeing the videos really helps to understand the written descriptions of these approaches.