Flying into Washington’s Reagan National (DCA) is unlike anywhere else in the U.S. The famous River Visual approach to Runway 19 has planes skimming low over the Potomac before a sharp right turn at just 200 feet to avoid restricted airspace over the White House and Capitol. Add in short runways, tight noise abatement rules, and slot restrictions, and you’ve got one of the most challenging and scenic arrivals in the country.
I’ve done the River Visual once, and the views of the National Mall were jaw-dropping. But you can feel how precise the flying has to be. Pilots love the challenge, but I can see why controllers here are under constant pressure.
Have you flown into DCA? Did the approach feel more thrilling or nerve-wracking?
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