PIREP Request: Flying into DC area airports
- Thread starter mandm
- Start date
You can't. The requirements for DCA access is not something you're going to accomplish for casual flights.
You can get into VKX or CGS with some hoop jumping (you'll need to be approved as a pilot and follow special procedures). I was based at VKX on 9/11, so I was in the first group so approved.
So other airports are easier: IAD, JYO, GAI, HEF are all good options. You need to follow the SFRA procedures (online course and special flight plans, etc...).
You can get into VKX or CGS with some hoop jumping (you'll need to be approved as a pilot and follow special procedures). I was based at VKX on 9/11, so I was in the first group so approved.
So other airports are easier: IAD, JYO, GAI, HEF are all good options. You need to follow the SFRA procedures (online course and special flight plans, etc...).
mandm
Avionics Upgrade
Ah ok so I can fly into IAD? I did the online training a few years ago, I’ll have to read it all again. I remember flying around the red outer circle before but ATC cleared me through it, I said I thought I couldn’t go there and he said as long as I was talking to him that it was fine.
What is your goal? Are you trying to check a box in a glorious fashion, or are you trying to accomplish a specific mission? That makes a difference for those of us that have local knowledge.
NealRomeoGolf
Final Approach
I've flown into Culpeper twice but that's a bit out of town. But that's where my brother lives so that's where I go. I go IFR.
mandm
Avionics Upgrade
We are visiting DC soon.
flyingcheesehead
Taxi to Parking
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2005
- Messages
- 28,184
- Location
- UQACY, WI
- Display Name
- iMooniac
- Home Airfield
- KUES/KMKE
Heh... Not worth it! IIRC, you take the online course first, you get a full-on FBI background check, you visit DC in person first and get interviewed and fingerprinted, and you get some kind of a code for your flight plan. Then, when you want to fly in, you first land at a "DC gateway airport" and pick up an armed law enforcement officer who's apparently supposed to shoot you if you hijack yourself, use your magic code and get in.
I'm sure I have some of the details not quite right, but it's very much NOT worth doing unless you're getting paid a lot of $$$ for it.
Do yourself a favor and go to HEF. Easy to get to both on the ground and in the air, friendly FBO, and not too much traffic. I was very pleasantly surprised when I landed there on my last visit to DC, would definitely go back.
I was based at IAD for years (my wife even learned to fly there) and I've returned many times before and after 9/11. Have you looked at a chart in the past 15 years? The red circle only has meaning for transponder use.
The white circle with the blue line with all the teeth on it and the grayed out area of the chart are telling.
You need more than just to talk to the controller to get the class B clearance to get into IAD. You need to take the online course on SFRA access to get within 60 NM of the DCA VOR. You need to follow the SFRA procedures (filing a pseudo-IFR plan and calling PCT on the appropriate frequency) to get inside the SFRA (where these airports are located) then you can request your class B clearance once they admit "transponder observed."
Get out your wallet. FBO fees at IAD ain't cheap.
Pinecone
Final Approach
For other than the three very close in airports, take the online course and print out the certificate. Then file and fly IFR.
If you fly in VFR, you need to do a SFRA flight plan that is sort of like an IFR one. And NEVER, EVER, squawk 1200 inside the SFRA, EVEN ON THE GROUND.
If you fly in VFR, you need to do a SFRA flight plan that is sort of like an IFR one. And NEVER, EVER, squawk 1200 inside the SFRA, EVEN ON THE GROUND.
Coming from the west, I'd do Leesburg or Manassas. Both have rental cars. If going to DC proper and you don't want a car, you can Metro from Leesburg after a short Uber, or Commuter Train from Manassas after a lift from the FBO (I prefer APP). SFRA caveats above!
Of course you can fly in to IAD and take the metro downtown. You'll want a lift over to the station from the FBO. It's about a mile walk from Signature, further and less hospitable Atlantic.
mandm
Avionics Upgrade
This sounds good. Thank you all.
Albany Tom
Final Approach
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2021
- Messages
- 5,703
- Display Name
- Albany Tom
Random related question, being lazy. Going into HEF, would filing IFR be easier than VFR, in terms of procedures for the flight? Asking because I have family in the DC/Virginia area and always just figured it was too much of a PITA to even try to fly it.
David Loftus
Pre-takeoff checklist
JYO is a no brainer, you don't even need to worry about the entry/exit gates. Just NW of IAD. Only took us 35 minutes to get to downtown DC. Someone would have to be nuts to hassle with the SFRA for a single trip.
Leesburg to downtown in 35 minutes? Did you have a police escort? 3am arrival? That’s a good 40 mile drive.
FWIW, JYO is in the SFRA, but specifically the Leesburg maneuvering area that simplifies entry and exit a bit. The difference is not needing to take the 90 seconds to file an SFRA flight plan in ForeFlight.
You didn’t say where you’re coming from and where in DC you’re staying. I’m assuming based on the “Chicago” in your profile you’re coming from the west. If you’re like most tourists, you are staying in Crystal City-Arlington-Alexandria area of Virginia. If you plan to do you trip without a rental car, HEF is probably your best bet if you can time it with one of the few weekday VRE reverse commute trains that leaves Broad Run station at 3:30 or 5:00 pm. Otherwise GAI is a relatively short uber ride to Shady Grove on the Metro Red line.
If you were asking about DCA, perhaps you don’t mind jumping through some hoops, which suggests you're open to going through the process to be vetted to fly into College Park, which is the closest in to DC and walking distance to the Metro Green Line. The process, which has been simplied over the years, is available here: https://collegeparkairport.aero/?page_id=56. It no longer requires a visit to a FSDO or DC beforehand (like it used to).
I've gone into IAD both IFR and VFR since the SFRA. One is not easier than the other.
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2022
- Messages
- 1,171
- Location
- Surrounded by Civil War ghosts
- Display Name
- Probably AI
- Home Airfield
- KHWY
I'm based at HEF, and flying in and out VFR is trivially easy. I use Garmin Pilot and the flight plan tool via Leidos has a specific setting just for SFRA plans. In my case, taking off is KHEF->FLUKY Gate at 2200ft, and inbound is FLUKY->KHEF at 2000 (the altitudes are a local informal thing to keep flight training traffic vertically separated a bit and keeps us clear of the 2500ft class B floor). Yesterday I filed probably a minute before calling up for my clearance, got the "Rogered by ARTCC" message in GP, and had no problems at all. Probably the biggest PITA is estimating a return time window, since I usually file both departing and returning flight plans at the same time. It's not difficult though, since the arrival vs estimate is 30 minutes early to 2 hours later, so it's a big window. Potomac Approach is pretty chill (usually; there have been a few days when the dumb student tricks have worn out their welcome) and usually will let you do whatever you want as long as you remain clear of the Bravo.
flyingcheesehead
Taxi to Parking
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2005
- Messages
- 28,184
- Location
- UQACY, WI
- Display Name
- iMooniac
- Home Airfield
- KUES/KMKE
Really? IFR is just "do what you always do when flying IFR" whereas VFR has additional procedures that aren't done anywhere else. To me, one of those is obviously easier.
Well, VFR is filing an ifr-ish flight plan and making sure you're talking to PCT. IFR is filing an ifr flight plan and making sure you're talking to PCT. Not much difference.
This. In addition, with the return to office mandates traffic is horrendous in the morning on weekdays. Probably easily an hour+ even with using the greenway, toll road and 66.
JYO to the White House is an hour even with NO traffic. Takes 30 minutes just to get down to Dulles from JYO (which you'd have to drive by on the fastest route anyhow)
David Loftus
Pre-takeoff checklist
A reverse Friday commute at 6:30 am? Your mileage may vary.
Michael might be a bit of a lead foot too…
Last edited:
Rcmutz
Pattern Altitude
KHEF or KGAI are where I go when going up to DC.
mandm
Avionics Upgrade
Used to live in DC, flying in from Chicago. Will stay in Dupont circle in DC, not VA
If you’re staying in Dupont, you don’t want a car. Fly into GAI, catch a ride to the red line and take the Metro straight into Dupont Metro Station.Used to live in DC, flying in from Chicago. Will stay in Dupont circle in DC, not VA
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2010
- Messages
- 6,581
- Display Name
- GeorgeC
Isn't W50 a reliever for GAI by now? 
If you want to avoid the puppy mill, I suppose FME isn't too far from the Laurel MARC train station.
I always budgeted an hour for DC to JYO. The Georgetown pike is a pretty drive and the toll road only saves about 15 minutes. Plus, it avoids most of the church traffic if you happen to fly on a Sunday.
If you want to avoid the puppy mill, I suppose FME isn't too far from the Laurel MARC train station.
I always budgeted an hour for DC to JYO. The Georgetown pike is a pretty drive and the toll road only saves about 15 minutes. Plus, it avoids most of the church traffic if you happen to fly on a Sunday.
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2010
- Messages
- 6,581
- Display Name
- GeorgeC
Don't hit the power lines or the trucks on route 50. Probably won't be there much longer.
AlleyCat67
Pre-takeoff checklist
- Joined
- Oct 5, 2017
- Messages
- 485
- Display Name
- AleyCat67
- Home Airfield
- 20N
Any word on how long W00 will be open? Last I saw all objections to developing it into housing had been waived by the County. I’ll shed a tear when it’s gone - got my PPL there. Boy that runway looked short and narrow when I was learning to land!
I grew up in Bowie so I have a fondness for it as well.
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2010
- Messages
- 6,581
- Display Name
- GeorgeC
It's been closing in 12-18 months for the last few years. When I stopped by for ice cream recently, though, they seemed a little more confident that it would actually happen :/
mandm
Avionics Upgrade
Just do the online training and file a flight plan? Or is flight following good enough?
Unless you go waaaay out, you’ll need to do the SFRA training if VFR (within 60nm of the DCA VOR). And flight following isn’t sufficient, you’ll need to do a DC SFRA flight plan (a 60 second task in ForeFlight). Typically you won’t get true flight following, but you’ll make radio contact with Potomac approach and get a “transponder observed” response once your squawk code tags up on their scope.
Nikhiln25
Pre-takeoff checklist
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2024
- Messages
- 307
- Display Name
- nikhiln25
Didn’t realize it was at risk of closing. Damn it
LesGawlik
Cleared for Takeoff
- Joined
- May 6, 2006
- Messages
- 1,016
- Display Name
- Good Guy
I would go through 2W5 as well.
Fun fact- the maintenance shop and hangar were built by POWs. German POWs brought over during WWII constructed the facilities. Gil Bauserman owned the airport for decades. It was his pride and joy. The fixes on the RNAV approach landing north are related to him.