19/6/2014 Ronal d Reagan Washington Nati onal Ai rport - Wi k ipedia, the free ency clopedia http://en.wi k ipedia.org/wi k i/Ronal d Reagan Washington Nati onal Airport 1/27 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport IATA: DCA – ICAO: KDCA – FAA LID: DCA Summary Airport type Public Owner Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Operator Metropolitan Washington Airports Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (IATA: DCA , ICAO: KDCA, FAA LID: DCA ) is a public airport 3 miles (4.8 km) south of downtown Washington, D.C., in Arlington County, Virginia. [2] It is the commercial airport nea rest to Washington, D.C. For decades it was ca lled Washington National Airport; it was renamed in 1998 to ho n or form er U .S. Preside nt Ron ald Reagan . The Metropolitan Washingt on A irports Authority (MWAA) operates the airport with close oversight by the federal government due to its proximity to the national capital. Reagan National is a hub for US Airways, Reagan National's largest carrier. US Airways Shuttle has near-hourly airshuttle flights to New York LaGuardia Airport and Logan International Airport in Boston , and Del ta Air Lines' Delta Shuttle has near-hourlyair shutt le flights to La Guardia. Other than 40 slot exemptions, flights into and out of DCA are not allowed to exceed 1,250 statute miles in any direction non stop, i n an effort to s end air traffic to the lar ger but m ore distant Washington Dulles International Airport. In 2010 the airport served about 18.1 million passengers. [5] Coordi nates : 38°51′08″N 077°02′16 ″W
Transcript
8/11/2019 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.pdf
Hoover Field, near the present site of the Pentagon, was the first major terminal to
be developed in the Capital area, opening its doors in 1926. The facility's single
runway was crossed by a street; guards had to
stop automobile traffic during takeoffs and
landings. The following year Washington
Airport, another privately operated field, beganservice next door.[6] In 1930 the Depression
caused the two terminals to merge to form
Washington–Hoover Airport. Bordered on the
east by U.S. Route 1, with its accompanying high-
tension electrical wires, and obstructed by a high
smokestack on one approach and a dump nearby,
the field was inadequate.
Although the need for a better airport was
acknowledged in 37 studies conducted between
1926 and 1938,[6] there was a statutory
prohibition against federal development of
airports. When Congress lifted the prohibition in
1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt made a recess appropriation of $15 millionto build National Airport by reallocating funds from other purposes. Construction
of Washington National Airport began in 1940–41 by a company led by John
McShain. Congress challenged the legality of FDR's recess appropriation, but
construction of the new airport continued.[7]
The airport is southwest of Washington, D.C. The western part of the airport was once within a large Virginia
plantation, a remnant of which is now inside a historic site located near the airport's Metrorail station (see
Abingdon (plantation) for history). The eastern part of the airport was constructed in the District of Columbia on and
Despite the expansions, efforts have been made to restrict the growth of the airport. The advent of jet aircraft as
well as traffic growth led Congress to pass the Washington Airport Act of 1950, which resulted in the opening of
Dulles Airport in 1962. Concerns about aviation noise led to noise restrictions even before jet service began in
1966. To reduce congestion and drive traffic to alternative airports, the FAA imposed landing slot and perimeter
restrictions on National and four other high-density airports in 1969.
Transfer of control and renaming
In 1984 Secretary of Transportation Elizabeth Dole appointed a commission to study transferring National and
Dulles Airports from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to a local entity, which could use airport revenues
to finance improvements.[7] The commission recommended that one multi-state agency administer both Dulles and
National, over the alternative of having Virginia control Dulles and the District of Columbia control National.[7] In
1987 Congress, through legislation,[13] transferred control of the airport from the FAA to the new MetropolitanWashington Airports Authority with the Authority's decisions being subject to a Congressional review panel. The
constitutionality of the review panel was later challenged in the Supreme Court and the Court has twice declared the
oversight panel unconstitutional.[14] Even after this decision, however, Congress has continued to intervene in the
management of the airports.[15]
On February 6, 1998 President Bill Clinton signed legislation
[16]
changing the airport's name from Washington National Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, to honor the former president on his 87th
birthday.[17] The legislation, passed by Congress in 1998, was drafted against the wishes of MWAA officials and
political leaders in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C.[18][19] Opponents of the renaming argued that a large
federal office building had already been named for Reagan (the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade
Center) and that the airport was already named for a United States President (George Washington).[19] The bill
expressly stated that it did not require the expenditure of any funds to accomplish the name change; however,
regional, state and federal authorities were later required to change highway and transit signs at their own additional
expense as new signs were made.[20][21] To this day air traffic controlers in the airport's tower use the call sign
"Washington Tower" or less frequently "National Tower". Pilots who call "Reagan Tower" are quickly corrected.
Construction of current terminal buildings
With the addition of more flights and limited space in the aging main terminal, the airport
began an extensive renovation and expansion in the 1990s. Hangar 11 on the northern end
of the airport was converted into The USAir Interim Terminal, designed by Joseph C.
Giuliani, FAIA. Soon after an addition for Delta Air Lines was added in 1989 and was
later converted to Authority offices. These projects allowed for the relocation of several
gates in the main terminal until the new $450 million terminal complex became
operational. On July 27, 1997, the new terminal complex, consisting of terminals B and Cand two parking garages, opened. Argentine architect César Pelli designed the new
terminals of the airport. The USAir Interim Terminal closed immediately after the opening
and was converted back into a hangar. One pier of the main terminal (now Terminal A),
which mainly housed American Airlines and Pan Am, was demolished; the other pier, originally designed for
Northwest/TWA remains operational today as gates 1–9.
Until 1999, Runways 1/19 and 4/22 were designated 18/36 and 3/21.
Given Reagan National Airport's proximity to the city and high-security facilities,
Reagan National has extra security precautions required by the Washington Air
Defense Identification Zone that have been in place since the airport began
operations.[23]
Prior to the September 11 attacks in 2001, the notable security measure was thesouthbound approach into the airport. Most of central Washington D.C. is
prohibited airspace up to 18,000 feet (5,500 m). Due to this restriction, pilots
approaching from the north follow the path of the Potomac River and turn just
before landing. This approach is known as the River Visual . Similarly, flights
taking off to the north are required to climb quickly and turn left to avoid the
Washington Monument or flight over the White House.[23][24]
After the attacks, the airport was closed for several weeks, and security was
tightened when it reopened. Increased security measures included:
A ban on aircraft with more than 156 seats (lifted in April 2002)[25]
A ban on the "River Visual" approach (lifted in April 2002) [25]
A requirement that, 30 minutes prior to landing or following takeoff, passengers were required to remain
seated; if anyone stood up, the aircraft was to be diverted to Washington Dulles International Airport under
military escort and the person standing would be detained and questioned by federal law enforcement officials
(lifted in July 2005)[26]
A ban on general aviation (lifted in October 2005, subject to the restrictions below)[27]
"River Visual" approach asone of the more interesting in
the United States.
A U.S. Airways A319 on
final approach for National as
seen from the Arlington
Memorial Bridge.
On October 18, 2005, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was reopened
to general aviation on a limited basis (48 operations per day) and under
restrictions: passenger and crew manifests must be submitted to the Transportation
Security Administration 24 hours in advance, and all planes must pass through one
of 27 "gateway airports" where re-inspections of aircraft, passengers, and baggage
take place. An armed security officer must be on board before departing a gatewayairport.[28]
On March 23, 2011, the air traffic control supervisor on duty reportedly fell asleep
during the night shift. Two aircraft on approach to the airport were unable to
contact anyone in the control tower and landed unassisted.[29]
The "River Visual" approach
Reagan National Airport has noise restrictions that are some of the most restrictive
in the country.[30] Pilots are required to use the "River Visual" approach (used for
runway 19), which follows the Potomac River, and is only possible with a ceiling
of at least 3,500 feet (1,100 m) and visibility of 3 statute miles (4.8 km) or
more.[31] There are lights on the Key Bridge, Theodore Roosevelt Bridge,
Arlington Memorial Bridge, and the George Mason Memorial Bridge to aid pilotsfollowing the river. Aircraft using the approach can be observed from various
parks on the river's west bank. Passengers on the left side of an airplane can see the
Capitol, the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, the World War II
Memorial, Georgetown University, the National Mall, and the White House.
Passengers on the right side can see CIA headquarters, Arlington National
Cemetery, the Pentagon, and the United States Air Force Memorial.
In 1999, Senator John McCain of Arizona introduced legislation to remove the 1,250-statute-mile (2,010 km)
restriction,[32] infuriating some local residents concerned about noise and traffic from increased service by larger,
long-haul aircraft. McCain argued that the move would improve competition, while some congressional staffers
thought he was supporting the interests of Phoenix, Arizona-based America West Airlines (AWA).[33] In the end the
restriction was not lifted, but the FAA was permitted to add additional exemptions, which went not to AWA but to
competitor Alaska Airlines. America West (now US Airways, which is itself now a part of American AirlinesGroup) later gained additional exemptions for non-stop flights to Phoenix in 2004.
Originally the airport had no perimeter rule; from 1954 to 1960, airlines scheduled nonstop flights to California on
piston-engine airliners.[34][35] Scheduled jet airliners were not allowed at all until April 1966; the perimeter rule
arrived with them, and apparently applied only to them. The initial perimeter was 650 statute miles (1,050 km),
except that airports under 1,000 statute miles (1,600 km) that had scheduled nonstops in 1965 were allowed to
retain them. This meant Minneapolis–Saint Paul was allowed nonstop jet flights but Kansas City, New Orleans, andFort Lauderdale were not. In 1981 the perimeter became a flat 1,000 statute miles (1,600 km); it expanded to 1,250
statute miles (2,010 km), enough to encompass Houston, in 1986–87.
In May 2012, the U.S. Department of Transportation granted new perimeter exemptions for: Alaska Airlines for
service to Portland, Ore.; JetBlue Airways for San Juan, Puerto Rico; Southwest Airlines for Austin, Texas; and
Virgin America for San Francisco. Additionally, "the new law also allowed four large carriers already serving
Reagan National to exchange a total of eight slots for flights within the perimeter for an equal number of slotexemptions to permit nonstop flights beyond the perimeter. As a result, American Airlines traded one round-trip
flight to Dallas–Fort Worth for a flight to Los Angeles, Delta Air Lines traded one round-trip flight to New York–
LaGuardia Airport for a flight to Salt Lake City, United Airlines traded one round-trip flight to Chicago–O'Hare for
a flight to San Francisco, and US Airways traded one round-trip flight to Dallas–Fort Worth for a flight to San
Terminal A opened in 1941 and was expanded in 1955 to accommodate more
passengers and airlines. The exterior of this terminal has been restored its original
architecture, with the airside facade restored in 2004 and the landside facade
restored in 2008.[37] The terminal is currently undergoing a $37 million renovationthat will modernize the airport’s look by bringing in brighter lighting, more
windows and new flooring. The project is expected to be completed by the end of
2013.[38]
Terminals B and C
Terminals B and C opened in 1997, replacing a collection of airline-specific terminals built during the 1960s. Thenew terminals were designed by architect Cesar Pelli and house 35 gates.
Airport-operated parking garage facilities as well as economy lots are available adjacent to or near the various
airport terminals.
Bicycle
The airport is accessible by bicycle (and foot) from the Mt. Vernon Trail as well as the sidewalk along the airportaccess road leading from [Jefferson Davis Highway]. A total of 48 bike parking spots are available across six
separate bike racks.[47]
Abingdon Plantation Historical Site
A part of the airport is located on the former site of the 18th and 19th century Abingdon plantation, which was
associated with the prominent Alexander, Custis, Stuart, and Hunter families.[48] In 1998, MWAA opened a
historical display around the restored remnants of two Abingdon buildings and placed artifacts collected from the
site in an exhibit hall in Terminal A.[49][50] The Abingdon site is located on a knoll between parking Garage A and
Garage B/C, near the south end of the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metrorail station.[49][51][52][53]
Incidents and accidents
Eastern Air Lines Flight 537
On November 1, 1949, a mid-air collision between an Eastern Air Lines passenger aircraft and a P-38 Lightning
military plane took the lives of 55 passengers. The sole survivor was the Bolivian ace pilot of the fighter plane,
Bridoux's plane had taken off from National just 10 minutes earlier and was in contact with the tower during a brief
test flight. The Eastern Air Lines DC-4 was on approach from the south when the nimble and much faster P-38
banked and plunged right into the passenger plane. Both aircraft dropped into the Potomac River.
Air Florida Flight 90
On the af ternoon of January 13, 1982,[55] following a period of exceptionally cold weather and a morning of
blizzard conditions, Air Florida Flight 90 crashed after waiting forty-nine minutes on a
taxiway and taking off with ice and snow on the wings. The Boeing 737 aircraft failed to
gain altitude. Less than 1 statute mile (1.6 km) from the end of the runway, the airplane
struck the 14th Street Bridge complex, shearing the tops off vehicles stuck in traffic before
plunging through the 1-inch-thick (25 mm) ice covering the Potomac River. Rescue
responses were greatly hampered by the weather and traffic. Due to heroic action on the part of motorists, a United States Park Service police helicopter crew, and one of the
plane's passengers who later perished, five occupants of the downed plane survived. The
other 74 people who had been aboard died, as well as four occupants of vehicles on the
bridge. Pr esident Reagan cited motorist Lenny Skutnik in his State of the Union Address a
few week s later.
See also
References
1. ^ US Airways Declares National Airport a Hub at Senate Hearing (http://www.thestreet.com/story/11874226/1/us-
air ways-declares-national-airport-a-hub-at-senate-hearing.html?cm_ven=RSSFeed). TheStreet (2013-03-20). Retrieved on
2013-08-16.2. ^ a b FAA Air ort Master Record for DCA htt ://www. cr1.com/5010web/air ort.cfm?Site=DCA Form 5010
3. ^ a b "National Register Information System" (http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html). National Register of
Hi st oric Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09.
4. ^ "Virginia Landmarks Register" (http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/register_counties_cities.htm). Virginia Department
of Historic Resources. Retrieved 05-12-2013.
5. ^ a b "Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) Air Traffic Statistics"
(http://www.mwaa.com/reagan/1279.htm). Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
6. ^ a b c d e "History" (http://www.mwaa.com/reagan/1277.htm). Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. 2011.
Retr ieved 2011-03-24.
7. ^ a b c Feaver, Douglas B. (July 16, 1997). "Years of Deal-Making Enabled Change From 'Disgrace' to Showplace"
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/library/airport/history.htm). Washington Post . Retrieved 2009-
12-20.
8. ^ htt p://threadex.rcc-acis.org
9. ^ Aviation Daily 26 Feb 1971 p314
10. ^ "History of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport" (http://www.metwashairports.com/2455.htm). Metropolitan
Washington Airports Authority. 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-24.
11. ^ Car ol Hooper, Elizabeth Lampl, and Judith Robinson (April 1994). "National Register of Historic PlacesInventory/Nomination: Washington National Airport Terminal and South Hangar Line"
28. ^ "R estoration of General Aviation at Washington Reagan National Airport" (http://archive.today/yBvx). Transportation
Secur ity Administration. Retrieved 2011-03-24.
29. ^ " "Uncontrolled airport" situation at Washington National" (http://www.eturbonews.com/21941/air-traffic-controller-
slee ping-planes-land-without-help). eTurboNews. Retrieved 25 March 2011.30. ^ "Aircraft Noise Procedures and Guidelines at Reagan National Airport" (http://www.mwaa.com/reagan/2544.htm).
Metr opolitan Washington Airports Authority. Retrieved February 21, 2010.
31. ^ Garrison, Kevin (1993). Congested Airspace: A Pilot's Guide (Command Decisions Ser.)
46. ^ Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (2011). "Directions to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
(DCA)" (http://mwaa.com/reagan/1281.htm). Reagan National Airport (http://mwaa.com/reagan/reagan.htm). Retrieved
2011-10-21.
47. ^ "Washington National Airport Pedestrian/Bike Access" (http://www.crystalcity.org/_files/docs/dcabikemap.pdf). Crystal
Cit y Business Improvement District . Retrieved 4 June 2014.
48. ^ Templeman, Eleanor Lee (1959). Arlington Heritage: Vignettes of a Virginia County (http://books.google.com/books?
id=FBQ8AAAAMAAJ). New York: Avenel Books, a division of Crown Publishers, Inc. pp. 12–13.
49. ^ a b Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (November 12, 1998). "Historic Site At Airport Open to Travelers And
Pu blic"
(http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20081120051853/http://www.metwashairports.com/news_publications/newsroom/press_r eleases/1998/historic_site_at_airport). Archived from the original
(http://www.metwashairports.com/news_publications/newsroom/press_releases/1998/historic_site_at_airport) on 2008-11-
20. R etrieved 2008-03-04.
50. ^ Sipress, Alan (1998-11-11). "At National Airport, A Historic Destination"
