February 2020 Special MCQSC Update: New Departure Procedure Being Tested at DCA

The FAA recently started testing a new departure procedure out of Reagan National Airport that involves a waypoint adjustment close to the airport.  This change should not affect Montgomery County residents.  

(Some other adjustments that are anticipated this summer are expected to improve things for some of us -- more on that below.)   

The new departure procedure that is currently being tested was altered at the request of the U.S. Secret Service.  Specifically, a waypoint called ADAXE is being renamed and moved 784 feet southwest of its current location near the airport in order to reduce the number of aircraft incursions into restricted airspace over the National Mall and White House.   

The FAA is inviting comments from the public regarding the new procedure.  Community members in Arlington, VA and Northwest D.C. are likely to submit comments because the waypoint adjustment may affect their communities. 

Now to remind you of the good news that will affect us:  In July, the FAA has agreed to implement some additional adjustments to westerly departures.  These changes should mitigate noise for those Montgomery County residents who are currently affected by aircraft departing DCA to the south and west, which is about ⅔ of the departures that go over our communities.  Specifically, the adjustment will shift westerly departures over non-residential areas adjacent to the Potomac River.  This change, which has been endorsed by the Reagan National Community Working Group and agreed to by the FAA, was explained at our MCQSC meeting last October and will be discussed again at an upcoming MCQSC meeting (date TBD).  We also will share more detailed information from the FAA as it becomes available.