Originally Posted by
flyer703
The only other correction I would add is the often misunderstood notion that long-haul aircraft are noisier.
Yes, that's clearly an outdated and oversimplified notion (would you rather have a 140-seat MD-80 or a 200-seat A321neo fly over your bedroom window?), although it is easier to implement restrictions based on weight, seat count, or flight distance than noise levels. And changing anything related to DCA (or SNA, LGB, LHR, SYD or many other airports with powerful people who live nearby) "noise" restrictions is very difficult politically; when there is opposition from more than two sides, the status quo always has an enormous advantage.