1) Airplane in United livery parked at Terminal A --a 737, not an RJ, and possibly undergoing maintenance.

2) Runway 30 used for landing--I've never seen it used for landing before, only for takeoffs--but there was a strong wind from the west.

2) Runway 30 used for landing--I've never seen it used for landing before, only for takeoffs--but there was a strong wind from the west.
Happens occasionally with the strong wind out of the west. My wife used to work in a building on Rt. 28 that is right under the approach path when 30 is used to land. 747s flying up Rt 28 from the south and then banking to the left for the final approach. ^

Happens occasionally with the strong wind out of the west. My wife used to work in a building on Rt. 28 that is right under the approach path when 30 is used to land. 747s flying up Rt 28 from the south and then banking to the left for the final approach. ^

Flying north over 28, then turning left to land? That's one short final leg, and I assume that's never done for IFR approaches?

Heck, I've never seen runway 30 used for landings, and I've lived here for a decade.

Happens occasionally with the strong wind out of the west. My wife used to work in a building on Rt. 28 that is right under the approach path when 30 is used to land. 747s flying up Rt 28 from the south and then banking to the left for the final approach. ^

With westerly winds in the 25-35 knot range, I wonder if there are significant delays at IAD, if Runways 1L and 1R are not suitable for landings due to the significant crosswinds.

Flying north over 28, then turning left to land? That's one short final leg, and I assume that's never done for IFR approaches?

Heck, I've never seen runway 30 used for landings, and I've lived here for a decade.They do an approach to 1R and then circle to 30. Happens maybe a couple times a year.

With westerly winds in the 25-35 knot range, I wonder if there are significant delays at IAD, if Runways 1L and 1R are not suitable for landings due to the significant crosswinds.I remember 2-3 hours delays once in the past when they were landing 30 in the mid-afternoon rush. They were using 30 for all departures and arrivals that afternoon.

There have been mainline jets parked at A (757's, A3XX) the last couple of times I passed through. Last week the old gate centerlines had all been sandblasted off. Progress!

According to the FAA Airport Status website (http://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/flyfaaindex.jsp), there are no delays related specifically to IAD, just delays to EWR/LGA/ORD due to winds in those places.

According to the FAA Airport Status website (http://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/flyfaaindex.jsp), there are no delays related specifically to IAD, just delays to EWR/LGA/ORD due to winds in those places.

You might not have caught the info in time. Check out:

http://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_otherdis.jsp?advn=44&adv_date=03142006
and
http://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_otherdis.jsp?advn=57&adv_date=03142006

http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/KIAD.html

I flew in from the West Coast on a 757 to IAD this afternoon and it was indeed weird. When the tower gave the crew the wind info, whichever pilot was handling radio on my flight responded "lovely." That would have been a bit disquieting had flight deck not already insisted that the FAs take their seats and not do final cabin checks because of turbulence. We did an approach to 1R with the Air & Space Annex off to the left, then did a sharp bank to the left and landed on 30. It felt similar to coming into DCA. Once on the ground, we did a reverse turn onto one of the high-speed taxiways. The appoach was to the 1R localizer, and the pilots had radioed that they "would need 30" which I didn't understand at the time but soon figured out.

Is there some reason there isn't a landing pattern onto runway 30 in the first place? And why do only heavy jets have the concern about landing in a crosswind?

As for maintenance at the A gates, I recently saw a UA 757 there in a state of semi-disrepair, so it's nothing new.

And why do only heavy jets have the concern about landing in a crosswind?



All aircraft have a maximum crosswind component- just depends on the aircraft.

Is there some reason there isn't a landing pattern onto runway 30 in the first place? And why do only heavy jets have the concern about landing in a crosswind?

As for maintenance at the A gates, I recently saw a UA 757 there in a state of semi-disrepair, so it's nothing new.

A straight-in approach to 30 would take you low over residential areas.

The (currently-unused) A gates are a shorter tow for some UA metal that needs fixing - and you don't want to sit the plane at an otherwise-needed gate.

I flew in from the West Coast on a 757 to IAD this afternoon and it was indeed weird. When the tower gave the crew the wind info, whichever pilot was handling radio on my flight responded "lovely." That would have been a bit disquieting had flight deck not already insisted that the FAs take their seats and not do final cabin checks because of turbulence. We did an approach to 1R with the Air & Space Annex off to the left, then did a sharp bank to the left and landed on 30. It felt similar to coming into DCA. Once on the ground, we did a reverse turn onto one of the high-speed taxiways. The appoach was to the 1R localizer, and the pilots had radioed that they "would need 30" which I didn't understand at the time but soon figured out.

Is there some reason there isn't a landing pattern onto runway 30 in the first place? And why do only heavy jets have the concern about landing in a crosswind?

As for maintenance at the A gates, I recently saw a UA 757 there in a state of semi-disrepair, so it's nothing new.
SealBeach, there are only a limited number of approaches published for each airport. They are normally for the primary runway(s) only. All other runways become what are called circle to land, which means they can ONLY be used in VFR conditions. Otherwise an approach plate would be unreadable and even MORE confusing... :D Just try to read that sucker at night, in turbulence, going into a strange airport... I will GUARANTEE you the pucker factor ramps up significantly!

A straight-in approach to 30 would take you low over residential areas.

For 6 years, I have lived a few miles east of Dulles. I have never seen the landing pattern go over my house, until today. My wife took these pictures with her cell phone.

http://members.cox.net/flyingterp/overhouse.jpg
http://members.cox.net/flyingterp/overhouse2.jpg

They do an approach to 1R and then circle to 30. Happens maybe a couple times a year.
Pilot who was deadheading on my IAD-DEN flight confirmed this---the approach is 1R, with a left turn to 30.

Under a wind advisory today until 6pm, wind out of the west/NW. Sustained winds of 30-40 mph with gusts up to 50.

I bet runway 30 will see its share of landings today.

DCA was using the short cross runway(33?) yesterday for some fairly large planes. If the 30+mph wind swings from nw to w, is DCA still usable?

Can the 757's (I think that's the biggest plane out of DCA) land on the short cross runway?

All aircraft have a maximum crosswind component- just depends on the aircraft.

Interesting. It just seemed like yesterday only the heavies were circling to 30.

What did IAD do before they had runway 30? Or was it always there but just recently rebuilt? I can't keep track...

Had the runway 30 landing several times in recent months, all of
them under fairly windy conditions. Most recent was Monday
around dinnertime; most notable was a horrendous landing last
12/26, which my GF said was her worst ever, and she'd never fly
Independence Air again, which she didn't. That evening the
winds were 300 at 31 gusting to 44, and we were in a CRJ,
so to be fair it wasn't Kerry Skeen's fault.

30 has always been there, since the opening at IAD. I can't remember if it was 're-named' like the north-south runways were a few years ago.

Watching planes land on DCA's 33 is always a blast when you're out on the Potomac. It is so cool to see a 737 come up the east side of the Potomac and then swoop across the river. Lots of go-arounds. Even better is to see real metal land on DCA's runway 4, which is the shortest runway. Very, very rare to see, but it happens. I grew up under the flight path, and every so often we'd have a 727 fly overhead.

Today is another day for runway 30 landings at IAD. Winds are very strong out of the west, gusting to 45mph. I was out at lunch along Rt 28 and everything was landing on 30, flying up RT28 and then turning left. All the planes were bouncing around in the air, from the RJs to the AF777 that had to execute a missed approach. Quite a sight from the ground.

Today is another day for runway 30 landings at IAD. Winds are very strong out of the west, gusting to 45mph. I was out at lunch along Rt 28 and everything was landing on 30, flying up RT28 and then turning left. All the planes were bouncing around in the air, from the RJs to the AF777 that had to execute a missed approach. Quite a sight from the ground.


ok, I thought I was crazy when I saw that AF777.....I thought he went around, but now you confirmed it, im not too crazy.....yeah it is freaking windy today! glad im not out flying in my little 172 :)

Are you sure it wasn't a ERJ-170 or ERJ-190. At a glance or from a distance they do look like miniture 737's. The winglets give them away.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0797766

LNK

1) Airplane in United livery parked at Terminal A --a 737, not an RJ, and possibly undergoing maintenance.

2) Runway 30 used for landing--I've never seen it used for landing before, only for takeoffs--but there was a strong wind from the west.

Oh good, glad to know my flight through IAD will be awful. ;) Thanks for the heads up.

Oh good, glad to know my flight through IAD will be awful. ;) Thanks for the heads up.

Were you expecting anything better? ;)

Today is another day for runway 30 landings at IAD. Winds are very strong out of the west, gusting to 45mph. I was out at lunch along Rt 28 and everything was landing on 30, flying up RT28 and then turning left. All the planes were bouncing around in the air, from the RJs to the AF777 that had to execute a missed approach. Quite a sight from the ground.

I saw that AF 777 and was wondering what happened. I noticed an AF 777 heading north a little after noon before turning and did not remember there being a flight at that time of day and so I figured it probably was either a missed approach or an unusual approach due to the high winds.

I saw that AF 777 and was wondering what happened. I noticed an AF 777 heading north a little after noon before turning and did not remember there being a flight at that time of day and so I figured it probably was either a missed approach or an unusual approach due to the high winds.


sweet, there were 3 of us who thought we were all crazy! :)

i was suprised that they had them landing north

Given that the recent discussion on this thread is about IAD traffic/approach patterns, I am moving to the WAS forum since these conditions are more than just UA-specific.

cblaisd
Moderator, United

Pilot who was deadheading on my IAD-DEN flight confirmed this---the approach is 1R, with a left turn to 30.


on the approach charts that is the missed approach procedures