Also, that approach is more demanding because it requires low-level lateral maneuvering. That leaves even less likelihood of the jet pilots noticing traffic. They were concentrating on lining up and being at at the right approach angle.
Yes, the requirement to stay over the Potomac and not overfly the Pentagon (on the Virginia side) or government buildings in downtown Washington (on the other) make for
a difficult approach. I used to live in a high-rise not far from Key Bridge (which connects Rosslyn, a part of Arlington, with the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington) and would often hear descending planes nearby and worried that one would hit a high-rise building. One office worker in the USA Building near the river claimed that he had seen a plane approaching National Airport flying LOWER than his floor!
Per Wikipedia Davison Army Airfield is 15, not 5, miles SW of Washington in Fairfax County.
As a 60-year resident of the Washington area I found it unlikely that there was a functioning airfield that close to Washington, a tightly-controlled airspace.
It's actually 12. 12 is my friend told me on the phone, but he wasn't sure so I measured it in Google Earth. Not sure how it came out to 5, but I just double checked and 12 is correct. Correction made. Thanks!
Thanks Brian, as ever. I just wish at least some of the journalists covering this made the same effort you have.
Good info.
Also, that approach is more demanding because it requires low-level lateral maneuvering. That leaves even less likelihood of the jet pilots noticing traffic. They were concentrating on lining up and being at at the right approach angle.
Yes, the requirement to stay over the Potomac and not overfly the Pentagon (on the Virginia side) or government buildings in downtown Washington (on the other) make for
a difficult approach. I used to live in a high-rise not far from Key Bridge (which connects Rosslyn, a part of Arlington, with the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington) and would often hear descending planes nearby and worried that one would hit a high-rise building. One office worker in the USA Building near the river claimed that he had seen a plane approaching National Airport flying LOWER than his floor!
Per Wikipedia Davison Army Airfield is 15, not 5, miles SW of Washington in Fairfax County.
As a 60-year resident of the Washington area I found it unlikely that there was a functioning airfield that close to Washington, a tightly-controlled airspace.
It's actually 12. 12 is my friend told me on the phone, but he wasn't sure so I measured it in Google Earth. Not sure how it came out to 5, but I just double checked and 12 is correct. Correction made. Thanks!