wolit (08/06/82)
This is in response to the person who was complaining about the service provided by ATC at Washington National Airport: I don't know what you're used to at your home airport, but in my experience, the ATC at DCA is the best I've ever found. Sure, it's REAL busy there, but I think the tower people there do a terrific job of keeping things moving. I almost always get an immediate landing clearance via the shortest possible route, and while I was once instructed to do a 360-degree turn on final to let a USAir 727 in behind me, given the volume and mix of traffic there (everything from DC-10s to Cessna 150s, and lots of them) that's pretty good. Taking off is even better, since I usually get cleared to one of the shorter runways where there's no one waiting in front of me. I find ATC there to be especially courteous and helpful as well. Wanna see a really BAD ATC? Try getting a TCA routing (or even a decent IFR clearance) through the Philadelphia area -- those clowns don't want to know about anything smaller than a DC-9. [I'd also like to put in a good word for the general aviation FBO at DCA. At what other major airport can you land (for $5, as I recall) in a light single, get met at the ramp by a line person who ties your plane down, takes your bags, and drives you to the terminal, where you can hop on a subway and be downtown in 15 minutes? They usually have my plane refuelled before I ever leave the terminal, they have a weather teletype and a bank of free flight service phones, and always treat you right.]