Originally Posted by
dcpatti
Please remember those of us who live in the District, love DCA, push a lot of business through DCA, and have no voting representation in Congress. We can't pressure our congressional reps to vote in favor of getting rid of the perimeter rules, but you can pressure yours. And I hope that you will. DCA is a fantastic airport and has the infrastructure to support more flights beyond the perimeter;
It's a shame that some of the most affected people in this issue have no way to contribute to the decision.
dca does not have the infastructure to support MANY more flights beyond the perimater. i read once that the entire airport is on a plot smaller than the jfk terminals. for the past 5 years, dca has had a pasenger count of 18MM and 275K flights. a 20% jump in both is going to create a mess on everything from parking to restrooms, and there is no place for expansion. the backups on the runways will run an hour or so. a good steady strong wind from the wnw and the backups will be for a couple hours.
by the way, in spite of all the haggling, there has been agreement to adding some 40 or so flights to the west coast. i do not think more slots will be added, just the big planes to get congress home.
as to congressional influence, my MD congressperson lives 4 miles north of my house. the next guy down lives 5 miles south. we cannot get them to push to the arrivals into the center of the potomac on the "potomac visual" where they belong. they turn on the auto pilot machine, and fly over the patasco and oxon hill electronic markers, which are on the maryland shore.
if you want congressional influence,
a. be a congress person or spouse,
b. give at least $10k, or bundle 100K. they will listen then.