Another DCA River Visual question...

[RRPower]

I'm just relating what the DCA tower told me. To quote Bob discussing runway 1 departures, "We don't feel comfortable until we see the left wing drop."

I've talked to those guys lots of times on long sits. There are a couple up there that like to make HUGE stories out of insignificant events. I would take that with a grain of salt. They don't sit there biting their nails waiting on the airplane to turn NW up the river. DCA is much too busy for that.

 

[Trip7]

He SORTA has a point.

Both the FAA and my company stresses a stable approach. On a straight in approach to IAD or ATL I have to be configured by 1,000ft ATL and stable by 500ft. Granted I have as much experience flying into DCA as @BobDDuck's FO did, but I'm pretty sure that maneuvering to line up with the runway happens below 500ft.

Same with LGA on the expressway visual.

That said, I do think it can be done safely (Unless you try to land nose first). I've just always found it slightly entertaining that if I flew into CAE the same way we approach LGA on the expressway visual, I'd probably hear about it. But because its a charted procedure nobody cares.

He doesn't have a point. When part of a procedure and when properly briefed, the stable approach criteria can be amended.

 

[ChasenSFO]

Just make sure you crank it real good for the cameras.

 

[Screaming_Emu]

He doesn't have a point. When part of a procedure and when properly briefed, the stable approach criteria can be amended.

Legally, yes. But that doesn't mean that flying an unstable approach isn't still a little more unsafe just because they said its ok.

Again, I'm all for these approaches. They can be done safely. I love doing them. But just because its a charted procedure doesn't mean its not riskier. It's a risk that can be managed, yet if I cranked and banked like that into CAE, I'd get a phone call.