Flying to DC

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UngaWunga

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UngaWunga
Chance we'll fly to DC over thanksgiving. Relatives live near DCA, about 10-15 min south of it. Suggestions on airports to fly into that are GA friendly? Have taken the DC SFRA course. Are there any airports that are on a commuter rail line or have other easy access to the area for a VFR pilot? KHEF?
 
You can also go to BWI and the FBO will give you a ride to the airport train station. I think it's like $5 bucks to get to Union station. BWI can be a little pricey (Signature), but I found it pretty convenient.
 
I think Khef is a very good idea. The airport is close to your target area. If you go there you should try Dulles Aviation they are extremely nice and helpful people. Give them a call ahead to arrange and may be get a discount on gas as well.
 
White Bird said:
I think Khef is a very good idea. The airport is close to your target area. If you go there you should try Dulles Aviation they are extremely nice and helpful people. Give them a call ahead to arrange and may be get a discount on gas as well.
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https://www.airnav.com/airport/KHEF/DULLES_AV

"Discounts: DOES ANYBODY READ THIS STUFF?
CALL OR TEXT AND WILL GIVE MY BEST DISCOUNTS THAT I CAN AFFORD,
Joe Gardner 703-843-8020 "

:lol:
 
UngaWunga said:
Chance we'll fly to DC over thanksgiving. Relatives live near DCA, about 10-15 min south of it. Suggestions on airports to fly into that are GA friendly? Have taken the DC SFRA course. Are there any airports that are on a commuter rail line or have other easy access to the area for a VFR pilot? KHEF?
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What direction are you coming from? Are your relatives picking you up? Sounds like they live in the Alexandria area.

Don't mess around with VRE unless you're arriving in the morning as they run on a commuter schedule. HEF is pretty far out from Alexandria, and a long commute on the train, cab, or whatever you take.

2W5 is likely the closest non-FRZ airport. I've had success using Uber, and a ride from there should cost about $30-35. You can also arrange for a rental there as well.
 
We'll be coming from the NE, from NH. We're actually staying in a hotel in DC, but they do live in Alexandria. It would be nicer to fly into an airport closer to them since I'm sure I'll be giving rides.
 
I was going to suggest HEF and a rental car, but with a hotel that is out. As mentioned, VRE is a commuter rail and you would want to check on their schedule for weekends and holidays. HEF is about a 40-45min car ride from Alexandria (except on friday afternoon, then its 2hrs).

I live near 2W5, and cab coverage out here is spotty. If your friends can pick you up, it's about 30min from the Wilson bridge.

If DC is your main destination, GAI and a 10min cab or Uber to the metro is a reasonable option. I say reasonable because you are still sitting in the metro for 34min to get to Metro Center.
 
If your giving rides VFR you might consider jyo it's a distance ,but has a VFR corridor in and out of the airport. No public trans in the area yet.
 
frfly172 said:
If your giving rides VFR you might consider jyo it's a distance ,but has a VFR corridor in and out of the airport. No public trans in the area yet.
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Not exactly convenient from Alexandria. A couple minutes to file a flight plan is a lot easier than driving out to Leesburg.
 
DCA is right out, you're not getting in there.

IAD is not bad though it can be pricey. You can get a bus down to the DCA area, all sorts of car rentals, or a lift to the Metro (which is now a lot closer than it is to GAI).

HEF is a nice field. As mentioned the VRE is an option. Alas, the VRE is a COMMUTER service and hence unless you happen to be heading downtown in the morning, you may have difficulty using it. HEF has car rentals.

Your other option depending on where exactly they are in relation to DCA is RMN. Easier connection up the I-95 corridor.
 
KDAA seems conveniently located... :lol:
 
VRE doesn't run on weekends, so take that into consideration with HEF (I am based at HEF and recommend it, but if you're counting on transit on weekends, it's less convenient).

At IAD, you can get a ride to the main terminal and take a bus to Metro.

If you are cleared for CGS, it's a short ride/long walk to Metro.

Train from BWI. BWI has rail service on weekends.

Other options require a car, taxi, or Uber.
 
flyingron said:
DCA is right out, you're not getting in there.

IAD is not bad though it can be pricey. You can get a bus down to the DCA area, all sorts of car rentals, or a lift to the Metro (which is now a lot closer than it is to GAI).

HEF is a nice field. As mentioned the VRE is an option. Alas, the VRE is a COMMUTER service and hence unless you happen to be heading downtown in the morning, you may have difficulty using it. HEF has car rentals.
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There are one or two afternoon trains from HEF, but this is correct: non-commute service is limited. If the folks at HEF can give a ride into downtown Manassas, I *think* there's Amtrak service off-hours.

Your other option depending on where exactly they are in relation to DCA is RMN. Easier connection up the I-95 corridor.
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Assuming 95 is not at a standstill....

RMN is a nice little airport.

There's also Shannon (EZF) in Fredericksburg with a ride (or taxi) to VRE or Amtrak.
 
Please don't send this poor guy up and down I95 over a Thanksgiving weekend. That's why he has a plane!
 
Brad Z said:
Please don't send this poor guy up and down I95 over a Thanksgiving weekend. That's why he has a plane!
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I95, I66, and the beltway. Pick your poison.

Might ask the folks at Hyde if the procedure to get your DC3 security clearance is any better now. I know there was talk of being able to do the interview at distant FSDO facilities - if that's done, it may be possible to fly into Hyde, Potomac, or College Park and complete the process then.

http://hydefield.com/Hyde_Field/Getting_A_PIN_Number.html

If you decide to do that, call them first. The folks at Hyde are very good to deal with on PIN numbers. Don't even try to enter the FRZ without following all the procedures.
 
wsuffa said:
I95, I66, and the beltway. Pick your poison.
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With the 2W5 option, you only have to worry about the beltway across the Wilson Bridge, which nowadays is a breeze, even at rush hour. Indian Head Highway is never particularly bad.

wsuffa said:
Might ask the folks at Hyde if the procedure to get your DC3 security clearance is any better now. I know there was talk of being able to do the interview at distant FSDO facilities - if that's done, it may be possible to fly into Hyde, Potomac, or College Park and complete the process then.

http://hydefield.com/Hyde_Field/Getting_A_PIN_Number.html

If you decide to do that, call them first. The folks at Hyde are very good to deal with on PIN numbers. Don't even try to enter the FRZ without following all the procedures.
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My last update is we're still waiting for TSA to takeover the pilot vetting process, thus skipping the step of having to go to the FSDO (the FSDO is involved now because they are responsible for making sure you don't have a history of violating airspace). As it is now, you can do your fingerprints and training from afar. Once the FSDO step is removed, you won't need to visit DC at all before getting vetted.
 
I have been trying to get a badge for Potomac for two years ,every time I'm in Alexandria for a few days FSDO is not open for business . Just got badged at Sarasota ,they sent the paperwork to DC and everything was fine. Hope they go the TSA route sooner than later.
 
Brad Z said:
With the 2W5 option, you only have to worry about the beltway across the Wilson Bridge, which nowadays is a breeze, even at rush hour. Indian Head Highway is never particularly bad.
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I'll tell my wife ;-)

6-8:30am and 4-6pm you want to avoid 210. All other times its fine. Cant say that about 95, it can be awful at 2am.
 
Bolling field. You're just an "escort" away.... :D
 
Sweet. I like to see the aircraft my tax dollars pay for up close.
 
If you plan on coming back, consider doing the DC3 vetting while you are here. That way you can land at Potomac and take a cab to Alex or College Park and the metro for future visits.
 
LandSickness said:
Bolling field. You're just an "escort" away.... :D
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If you can still find a runway at Bolling....

I was down at Eagle's Nest a couple of months ago but noted that no runways still exist...
 
Save yourself a lot of trouble and just go into 2W5. It's so much easier to get into DC from SE Maryland.

Rent a car or uber into town for about $30. Gas will be cheap as well.

If you can't do that and are coming in from the north, go to GAI. It's very easy to get to the metro from there. Yeah, it's a 30 minute metro down into town, but that's not a big deal.

What you don't want is to go to HEF and get trapped in traffic during the Thanksgiving rush. Traffic in northern Virginia is a nightmare.
 
UngaWunga said:
KDAA seems conveniently located... :lol:
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Actually, up until 9/11 there were some civilian planes there, though it was off limits to casual visitors. We used to shoot approaches there. When I was based at IAD but went into VKX regularly for fuel and maintenance, I used to talk to them all the time.

They never included DAA in any of the FRZ procedures or other subsequent rules. It's pretty much inaccessible to non-military aircraft.
 
wsuffa said:
There's also Shannon (EZF) in Fredericksburg with a ride (or taxi) to VRE or Amtrak.
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By the way, if you've not been into Shannon in a while, you're in for a pleasant surprise. They've completely made over the airport. They've repaved everything. 24 hour fuel, 24 hour bathroom. Nice little FBO building with a soda fountain operation at one end. Very friendly operators.
 
Brad Z said:
Please don't send this poor guy up and down I95 over a Thanksgiving weekend. That's why he has a plane!
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It really depends on where his "friends" are. I-95 is often not any worse than fighting your way in I-66 to the parkway.
 
Bonchie said:
What you don't want is to go to HEF and get trapped in traffic during the Thanksgiving rush. Traffic in northern Virginia is a nightmare.
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The I-270 corridor is no picnic either. He can't ignore NoVa completely, that's his destination **NOT** DC.
 
Bonchie said:
Save yourself a lot of trouble and just go into 2W5. It's so much easier to get into DC from SE Maryland.

Rent a car or uber into town for about $30. Gas will be cheap as well.

If you can't do that and are coming in from the north, go to GAI. It's very easy to get to the metro from there. Yeah, it's a 30 minute metro down into town, but that's not a big deal.

What you don't want is to go to HEF and get trapped in traffic during the Thanksgiving rush. Traffic in northern Virginia is a nightmare.
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To get to 2W5 do you have to go through the vetting process?
It is inside the SFRA and the TFR
 
UngaWunga said:
Chance we'll fly to DC over thanksgiving. Relatives live near DCA, about 10-15 min south of it. Suggestions on airports to fly into that are GA friendly? Have taken the DC SFRA course. Are there any airports that are on a commuter rail line or have other easy access to the area for a VFR pilot? KHEF?
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I suggest renting a float plane and landing on the reflecting pond in the mall, I don't think that one has been done yet, and puts you right in walking range of most the sights with seeing.
 
wsuffa said:
But you still have to file an SFRA flight plan (or IFR) and follow the SFRA procedures.
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This really isn't that difficult to comply with. The DC area controllers have always been nice and helpful towards me. One time I was cutting through going south and the expanded P-40 was active, but not displaying on the G-500. I set a heading I figured would take me clear and called up approach, "9SA, not super familiar with the area, if I hold this heading to xxx, will I end up with an F-18 on my wing?" Dude just laughed and said I looked good and he'll keep me out of the F-18's sights.
 
Thanks, 2W5 looks like a winner. I prefer smaller airports anyways.
 
UngaWunga said:
Thanks, 2W5 looks like a winner. I prefer smaller airports anyways.
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Based at HEF. Agree that 2W5 is a better choice for where you're going. Only better would be Potomac or Hyde, but FRZ silliness.

Traffic's horrific out here.

Office is 11 miles from home. It'll take somewhere between 15 and 50 minutes to make the trip. :yikes: The major interstates here, I66 and I95 are crimes against humanity. With I95 you can pay $$$$$$ to take the toll if you're not HOV-3 (with special transponder) to cut some of that pain off. If it's going the right way. (I495 is also in that group, but the part you'll have to go on from 2W5 is bearable.)
 
Yeah, how they divided up 95 between the have/have nots is stupid. Traffic would flow much better if they just joined up the lanes. I used to live in VA, and decided to not stay and work in the tech industry in that area because of the traffic.
 
UngaWunga said:
Yeah, how they divided up 95 between the have/have nots is stupid. Traffic would flow much better if they just joined up the lanes. I used to live in VA, and decided to not stay and work in the tech industry in that area because of the traffic.
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The signage is atrocious, and none of the GPS mapping programs had caught up with the new intersection when I was there last summer, quite annoying that was.
 
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