Flying Into Washington-Reagan (National)

Here are a couple of really cool screenshots I took on a simulated approach into Washington-Reagan (National) Airport (KDCA). The plane is a Midwest Airlines MD-80, using Flight1/CoolSky's excellent add-on for FSX with stock scenery:





Here I am flying over the Pentagon on final for Runway 15. Is this allowed in real-life, post 9/11? I haven't flown into DCA in almost 20 years, so I have no idea. Runway 15 is quite short, at less than 5500 ft. long. However, the lightly-loaded MD-80 has no trouble stopping in time.

I believe most commercial traffic into and out of DCA uses Runway 1-19, if I am not mistaken. It is definitely the longest runway there, at almost 7000 ft.

Landing on Runway 19 and taking off on Runway 1 pose some interesting challenges. The entire airspace over the Mall in Washington D.C. (home of the U.S. Capitol and numerous other important buildings) is prohibited up to 18,000 ft., so flying over it on landings and departures at DCA is not allowed. Violating this airspace is a good way to become acquainted with a few fighter jets which will hurriedly scramble to confront you. In essence, when landing at DCA on Runway 19, aircraft have to roughly follow the Potomac River and then make a hard right turn to line up with Runway 19 at the last minute for landing. Takeoffs on Runway 1 are less tricky, as they involve simply making a sharp bank to the left to avoid the prohibited airspace.

DCA is the smallest of the three airports that serve the greater Washington-Baltimore megalopolis, but it also happens to be the closest and most convenient airport to the center of Washington D.C. itself.

Enjoy!