I guess that's possible, but it doesn't seem logical, i.e. the many thousands coming TO Washington wouldn't be parking there, so unless there's supposed to be a mass exodus of locals, those lots should be fine. But then again, I never would have expected major commuter routes to be shut after midnight, so I'm hardly an expert.
There WILL be a major exodus of locals, including me.
Remember, inaugural hoopla aside, it's a holiday weekend for many for MLK day. And for those who don't have a holiday weekend there will be people leaving on Monday for usual business travel, as well as some enterprising souls who will park at the economy lot over the weekend to take Metro to downtown Washington hotels. I would be "very" surprised if there are any parking spaces available at DCA on the morning of Tuesday the 20th.
Location: MDW/ORD and the late lamented Meigs Field...
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ECOTONE
Can you imagine the VIEW during takeoff (if you're taking off north)? That's going to be nuts!
And this question makes me wonder whether DCA arrivals and departures will be suspended for some period around the time of the parade and inauguration...
if you are going to metro, i would go to hunington sta, as someone recommended. if it were not for the fact that it will be 15 F, you could park on the gw parkway south, and bike up. i have no idea where to leave the bike.
listen to 103.5 radio for traffic. XM/Sirius give phoney reports in the dc area.
And this question makes me wonder whether DCA arrivals and departures will be suspended for some period around the time of the parade and inauguration...
There's certainly the potential for that to happen. Alternatively, they could have plans land to the north and takeoff to the south. This would slow down the process significantly, but would allow for operations to continue.
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And this question makes me wonder whether DCA arrivals and departures will be suspended for some period around the time of the parade and inauguration...
That would cover a time frame of about 6 hours, can't imagine they would do it without just announcing in advance that the airport would be closed, and rescheduling everyone accordingly.
There's certainly the potential for that to happen. Alternatively, they could have plans land to the north and takeoff to the south. This would slow down the process significantly, but would allow for operations to continue.
i live 6 miles south of dca, under the flight path. the landing planes are much louder than those taking off. the pilots dump full flap, lots of good power, and come in low and slow and loud.
on takeoff, even with the noise abatement process, they are up, up, and away before they come over the house.
it is my understanding that there is a flight path to the west of rosslyn. i could not find it listed, but was told it was there when i asked about the planes on the wrong side of the high rises. they could use that.
the airlines are still selling tickets out of dca on 1/20
it is my understanding that there is a flight path to the west of rosslyn.
This route comes down the Potomac with excellent views of Georgetown and the Mall from the left side of the plane and of the Pentagon on the right. I think the southern (UP the Potomac) approach is the preferred one these days, but the other approach is still used at times.
If you don't want to risk parking at the airport, AND you think traffic for a cab will be awful AND you think parking at the metro will be impossible, how about taking a cab to the metro -- you avoid traffic on the surface streets and the parking nightmare. Only applies of course if cabs are not exempt from the surface street restrictions. If they're exempt, cab liekly is the easiest I'd think...
If there's any kind of wind conditions, there's limits on how much latitude pilots would have landing downwind on a short runway. I distinctly remember, during my private pilot days, landing a Cessna 172 (i.e. Skyhawk) on 19L at IAD. The tower advised of a wind shift while I was on final and asked if I wanted to go around and land to the north. With the Hobbes meter in mind and figuring I have over 2 miles of concrete to land on, I opted to go ahead with the landing. With a 20mph tailwind, I used about every damned inch of that runway before I got the plane stopped. Live and learn!
Can you imagine the VIEW during takeoff (if you're taking off north)? That's going to be nuts!
First off, I'm glad I live in Pentagon City / Crystal City. Nice short ride to DCA, especially going the other way.
Second, I'm flying out around noon out of DCA. Have already selected my seat on the right side of the airplane and I'm hoping to get a nice shot of the Mall. I'm really hoping we take off to the north!!
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Others have already answered your questions re: your options, so I'll just pipe up to say that I hope the airlines have contingency plans in place for getting their crews to the airport. I'm guessing that it'll be more difficult for those based in DCA than the overnighters who will likely be at nearby hotels. Good luck with it.
I live in DC and made plans to leave for the Inauguration, but probably not for long enough (arriving back into DCA at 7:30 PM on Inauguration Day). Fortunately, I'm going into Arlington and not DC (usually about a $20 cab ride) but am seriously hoping I can find a cab and a way home. Anyone know if the GW Parkway to Spout Run will be open at that time? I believe 395 will be closed and US 1 will likely be a madhouse.
I live in DC and made plans to leave for the Inauguration, but probably not for long enough (arriving back into DCA at 7:30 PM on Inauguration Day). Fortunately, I'm going into Arlington and not DC (usually about a $20 cab ride) but am seriously hoping I can find a cab and a way home. Anyone know if the GW Parkway to Spout Run will be open at that time? I believe 395 will be closed and US 1 will likely be a madhouse.
You will not be able to use the GW parkway to Spout Run.
I'm driving up from central Va. IAD isn't an option. I normally take 29 to 66 to GW Parkway. I'm thinking I'll drive up 29 (since 66 will be closed for non-HOV, non-bus) to Nutley St and try to park at the Vienna Metro station and take the train at 4AM. .
How long are you gone for? There is no long term parking at the Vienna metro station and I'm pretty sure they do enforce the 24 hour limit there.
Will 110 be open? You can reach that directly from 29 or 50. Or go around the Beltway to Alexandria and come up 1 to DCA.
By the way, 66 should be open outside the Beltway, though it probably isn't all that much faster to get onto it from Centreville to the Beltway than to just stay on 29, especially since the stretch from Nutley to the Beltway is always incredibly slow.
