I have visited Washington D.C. many times, but I have always flown into BWI or IAD. I will be flying into DCA next week. Which side of the airplane gives the best views of the city? I guess is the general traffic pattern to come in from the south? That would mean that I want to be on the DEF side.

Thanks in advance.

If it is the potomac approach the ABC side of the aircraft give the best views of the city. If it is the Mt Vernon approach, neither side is all that great, although the ABC side will give you a nice view of Alexandria.

On takeoff you want to be DEF side, as if you take off to the north you will have a great view of downtown, takeoff to the south willl yield a bunch of nothing from either side. What day are you heading out? I will be at WC at DCA next Thursday around 5-6:30pm.

I agree with the above. Do DEF on takeoff (hope for a takeoff to the north) and ABC on arrival (hope for the Potomoac approach from the north). If you end up taking off to the south/arriving from the south, neither side will yield that great a view so might as well go with what the above poster suggests.

DEF on landing from the north if you are interested in seeing The Pentagon rather than the city of Washington.

On takeoff you want to be DEF side, as if you take off to the north you will have a great view of downtown, takeoff to the south willl yield a bunch of nothing from either side. What day are you heading out? I will be at WC at DCA next Thursday around 5-6:30pm.

Friday through sunday. I will be attending a conference.

Thanks for the help!

DCA Views - What side of the plane should I sit on?

Arrival From North - "Visual River Approach" - (Runway 19)
Left Side (ABC): Good view of the Washington National Cathedral, Georgetown, Watergate, Kennedy Center, and The National Mall
Right Side (DEF): Very good view of Pentagon right before landing and a view of Arlington in the distance in not much else.

Arrival From South (Runway 1)
Left Side (ABC): View of Old Town Alexandria and a Target Store with a big bulls eye on it. Also a coal power plant. A nice view of the Washington National Masonic Monument. Also and OK distant view of DC if you make the approach from the west. Sometimes a good view of DCA itself. Depending how far to the south, you might get a view of Mount Vernon.
Right Side (DEF): If clear, you can get a shot of Andrews AFB, but not much else.

Departure to North (Runway 1)
Left Side (ABC): Quick view of Pentagon
Right Side (DEF): Steep view of the National Mall and an quick view of downton DC

Departure to South (Runway 19)
Left Side (ABC): Sometimes a view of Andrews AFB if clear enough.
Right Side (DEF): View of Old Town Alexandria and a Target Store with a big bulls eye on it. Also a coal power plant. A nice view of the Washington National Masonic Monument.

DCA Views - What side of the plane should I sit on?

Arrival From North - "Visual River Approach" - (Runway 19)
Left Side (ABC): Good view of the Washington National Cathedral, Georgetown, Watergate, Kennedy Center, and The National Mall
Right Side (DEF): Very good view of Pentagon right before landing and a view of Arlington in the distance in not much else.

Arrival From South (Runway 1)
Left Side (ABC): View of Old Town Alexandria and a Target Store with a big bulls eye on it. Also a coal power plant. A nice view of the Washington National Masonic Monument. Also and OK distant view of DC if you make the approach from the west. Sometimes a good view of DCA itself. Depending how far to the south, you might get a view of Mount Vernon.
Right Side (DEF): If clear, you can get a shot of Andrews AFB, but not much else.

Departure to North (Runway 1)
Left Side (ABC): Quick view of Pentagon
Right Side (DEF): Steep view of the National Mall and an quick view of downton DC

Departure to South (Runway 19)
Left Side (ABC): Sometimes a view of Andrews AFB if clear enough.
Right Side (DEF): View of Old Town Alexandria and a Target Store with a big bulls eye on it. Also a coal power plant. A nice view of the Washington National Masonic Monument.


Thanks for the rundown. I guess that I can hope for an approach from the north and a departure to the north.

Bear in mind that once you begin following the river the flight seeing comes quickly during the last few minutes of your flight. Pilots often inform the pax about which approach will be used - north or south. You might ask neighboring pax if they know where we are. I enjoy this.

As airport threads are moved to their respective city forums, let's move this to the Washington D.C. (including Baltimore) forum, with a redirect left here.

slippahs
nwa WorldPerks forum co-moderator

The wealthiest live to the north. in an effort to reduce their noise,

Up the first 10 or 15kts of wind, AM launch is to the south. PM arrival is from the south. when it really slows down, both arrivals and departures are to the south. this puts close to 70% of the flights to the south.

Thanks for the rundown! ^

Arrival From South (Runway 1)
Left Side (ABC): View of Old Town Alexandria and a Target Store with a big bulls eye on it. Also a coal power plant. A nice view of the Washington National Masonic Monument.
My house is about 10 blocks north of the Masonic Monument. Be sure to give me a wave! ;)

Keep in mind that if you're coming in on an RJ there's a small-ish chance you may be landing on 15/33 rather than 1/19.

When 1 is the active, occasionally the NY shuttles (with limited fuel and weight as a result of the destination) don't use the whole runway, and bank to the right and fly over the eastern edge of DC on departure. If you're in ABC for those flights you get a sweet view of Washington.

The wealthiest live to the north. in an effort to reduce their noise,

Up the first 10 or 15kts of wind, AM launch is to the south. PM arrival is from the south. when it really slows down, both arrivals and departures are to the south. this puts close to 70% of the flights to the south.

Where do you get that information? Over the summer I was working downtown and I would reach Memorial Bridge around 6am every morning. I would say 80%+ of the time departures were heading north. I can tell you there was most definitely less than 10 - 15 kts of wind most summer mornings.

Are you saying "when it slows down" departures take off to the south (runway 19) and arrivals come from the south (runway 1). I have NEVER seen DCA do that.

Also, to the OP, call 703-419-3917 to hear the DCA ATIS (Automated Terminal Information Service) Listen for the part that says "arrivals expect [(Mount Vernon or River)] runway [(1 or 19]" (Right now it says "arrivals expect Mount Vernon visual approach runway 1")