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DCA has two runways. The longer runway is aligned with the river’s north/south direction at that point, so planes flying the approach to this runway from the so
by snowwrestler 2y ago
DCA has two runways. The longer runway is aligned with the river’s north/south direction at that point, so planes flying the approach to this runway from the south track along the western shore of the river, leaving the eastern shore clear for other aircraft like helicopters. The vast majority of flights on approach from the south [1] use this longer runway.
The secondary runway is set at a diagonal NW/SE. Planes flying an approach from the south follow the river at first, but then loop out over the eastern shore of the river to line up on that runway. To my eye the radar track of the downed flight follows this path. It’s possible since it was a small plane and only small planes can use the diagonal runway—it’s shorter.
I mention this because this track takes planes into airspace that is a) usually clear of commercial airplane traffic, and b) directly over military facilities like Naval Research Lab and Joint Base Bolling, which have significant military helicopter travel.
Basically, I wonder to what extent the helicopter pilot was surprised to find an airplane descending in that location.
[1] When flights are approaching from the north, the main runway requires a pretty sharp right turn seconds before touching down. Approaches to the diagonal runway from the north take planes almost directly over the Pentagon.
- Molitor5901 2y agoThe press conference this morning mentioned that this was a new flight path. I wonder if the helicopter crew were not fully briefed on the new path, if that is the case.
- francisofascii 2y agoIn looking at the radar recording, the plane appears to be approaching from the south going north (very slightly east), than diverts northwest to land on the runway, as you describe.
- GlenTheMachine 2y agoI work at NRL, east of DCA and about 500 yards south of the crash. Can confirm that it is not unusual for flights to pass directly overhead of us, however I don’t understand the statement that this was a new flight path.
- dboreham 2y agoWhat it means is that the aircraft was on approach into runway 1 (ILS) and then on ATC instruction changed runway to 33 (no ILS). This required a "jog" in flight path -- a slight right turn followed by a left turn, to account for the different orientation between the runways. You can see the turns on the ADS data. Crash happened right at the end of the second turn.
- rtkwe 2y agoIt wasn't a surprise, the ATC recording is out there already [0], also while it's a less common approach path it's not exactly new or that unusual military traffic has to deal with the commercial traffic all the time in that area. [0] Crash happens around 8:21 the chopper pilot is advised of and reports traffic in sight at around 7:06 and 8:12 https://archives.broadcastify.com/44114/20250129/202501292000-281903-44114.mp3 https://archives.broadcastify.com/44114/20250129/20250129200...