I wonder if any other FTers were on UA1569 on 6/28, IAH-DCA. DCA was landing to the SE (which is unusual), so the approach was the slalom down the Potomac to avoid restricted space. We aborted the first landing - we couldn't have been more than 50 feet off the ground - and the pilot sardonically said it was generally a bad idea for two planes to try to occupy the same real estate (e.g., another plane hadn't cleared the runway in time).

So we circle around, juke down the river again, and the same thing happens! The captain didn't even make an announcement that time, but his comments after we (finally) landed made clear he was furious.

I've been on aborted landings a couple of times (once at DEN, once at FRA, I think once at EWR). Anyone had to go around twice?

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/U...749Z/KIAH/KDCA

Zoom into DCA for the three approaches.

I was on a Virgin flight from LGW to MCO and aborted landing 3 times due to winds. Final landing was one of the best I have been on

Good on 'em! ^
It wasn't so much 2 aborted landings as it was 1 SAFE landing!

That visual approach is not an easy one, particularly in light of the restricted airspace one must avoid and the shorter rwys and traffic.
In addition, pilots may not see that one often.

Either ATC was spacing them too tight, your plane didn't get slowed/configured early enough, they got pimped by the rollout aircraft, or a combination of all of the above.

But, you know, those things practically fly themselves.
So, don't know what the problem was.

I've had plenty of fog related diverted landings at SAN and SFO - it's all about the 1 good one.


M59

LOL, absolutely. The experience of the pilots on that flight didn't matter at all.

I've been flying out of DCA for 20 years, and for whatever reason, I've been experiencing more 737 landings on 15/33 in the last year than in the previous 19 years altogether.

An excellent example illustrating why pilots should be treated with dignity, including training, proper rest and fair compensation.

Wasn't on the flight but was sitting in the DCA and saw the bird take back off twice. Thought it was really strange.

I find that pilots act much more professionally than flight attendants. The psycho pilot is extremely rare but you see that in FA's. Look at the recent American Eagle one and the Jet Blue psycho. I don't know how to make FA's better. Pay them more? How will that help attitude? Unless you pay them more and be able to replace them if they are nasty.

wait. i'm no pilot but i kind of had the impression that one of ATC's jobs is to tell pilots things like "hey, you're all good to land" and "hey... there's a plane where you're supposed to land, maybe you should hang out for a few minutes."

...does ATC not do the latter? because as a passenger i would kind of hope they do.

Sometimes ATC makes a mistake, and sometimes, pilots on the ground don't follow directions.

I was on a DUR-CPT SAA flight about 7 years ago that attempted 2 or 3 times before landing safely. Wind was the issue. Got some great views of the city, Table Mountain and Robben Island.

Huh?

Absolutely.

At most airports, you land straight with no turns in the last few minutes of the flight. There are certainly exceptions. The SE approach to DCA flies between restricted airspace over the Capitol and White House on one side and the Pentagon on the other. The route basically follows the river, meaning planes on approach make several small turns (in both directions) at low altitude. They do this on takeoff in that direction too, but it seems less noticeable. Just reminded me of a slalom skier.