Is Reagan National Airport Cursed?

[The River]

I'd like to ask everyone for what they know about DCA's operations for as far back as you might remember and share any particular facts or thoughts you think are relevant.
The recent troubles are, from what I can tell, just a small fraction of the airport's troubled history. In 2011, a story about the local controller falling asleep and two planes landing without authorization went national; MAD even had a little something made for it (attached below). Up until very, very recently, the problems facing controllers like mandatory overtime or declining staffing levels were still relatively unknown in the public's consciousness.

I'm by no means reverting to paganism; but just what is going on with Reagan? I'm not nearly as experienced or learned as the majority of people here, so I'd really appreciate hearing what you have to say.

 

[slater]

I'd like to ask everyone for what they know about DCA's operations for as far back as you might remember and share any particular facts or thoughts you think are relevant.
The recent troubles are, from what I can tell, just a small fraction of the airport's troubled history. In 2011, a story about the local controller falling asleep and two planes landing without authorization went national; MAD even had a little something made for it (attached below). Up until very, very recently, the problems facing controllers like mandatory overtime or declining staffing levels were still relatively unknown in the public's consciousness.
View attachment 10070
I'm by no means reverting to paganism; but just what is going on with Reagan? I'm not nearly as experienced or learned as the majority of people here, so I'd really appreciate hearing what you have to sa

I'd like to ask everyone for what they know about DCA's operations for as far back as you might remember and share any particular facts or thoughts you think are relevant.
The recent troubles are, from what I can tell, just a small fraction of the airport's troubled history. In 2011, a story about the local controller falling asleep and two planes landing without authorization went national; MAD even had a little something made for it (attached below). Up until very, very recently, the problems facing controllers like mandatory overtime or declining staffing levels were still relatively unknown in the public's consciousness.
View attachment 10070
I'm by no means reverting to paganism; but just what is going on with Reagan? I'm not nearly as experienced or learned as the majority of people here, so I'd really appreciate hearing what you have to say.

Insert complexity and facility level argument here....

 

[Phillytroll69]

Literally haunted by patco ghosts. Just look at the name.

 

[J8ke]

It was not a controller that fell asleep but a supervisor. Back then supervisors worked single person midnight shifts.

DCA is the closest facility to HQ and the white house. Something goes wrong it makes the news and becomes politicized much faster than a facility in a different location.

 

[KP-ATC]

It was not a controller that fell asleep but a supervisor. Back then supervisors worked single person midnight shifts.

DCA is the closest facility to HQ and the white house. Something goes wrong it makes the news and becomes politicized much faster than a facility in a different location.

Yeah, but the fuck ups there have been really ugly, apparently with zero accountability. Not different than many facilities but still unacceptable.

 

[J8ke]

Yeah, but the fuck ups there have been really ugly, apparently with zero accountability. Not different than many facilities but still unacceptable.

I'm not sure where you get the idea that there is zero accountability.
If anything, there was zero accountability on the FAA for neglecting the systemic issues at the facility and throughout the NAS and trying to address them with the 'beatings will continue until morale improves' mentality. Now they're finding out.

 

[RalphBeast]

Heard this on the holy grail of reliable information (Reddit)... but apparently DCA is a pretty undesirable facility and controllers are overall mid to below-average. Lots of PCT and ZDC flunkees, basically the cream of the crap that is willing to stay in the area. Also their IG page has a bunch of BLM posts on there. Anyone else got the deetz?

 

[MFZZ]

Heard this on the holy grail of reliable information (Reddit)... but apparently DCA is a pretty undesirable facility and controllers are overall mid to below-average. Lots of PCT and ZDC flunkees, basically the cream of the crap that is willing to stay in the area. Also their IG page has a bunch of BLM posts on there. Anyone else got the deetz?

They literally have one post about BLM and that's a bunch? Good thing to know we work with some real racist pieces of shit though.

 

[RalphBeast]

They literally have one post about BLM and that's a bunch? Good thing to know we work with some real racist pieces of shit though.

Dude, it was someone on reddit that posted this, not me, don't taze me bro.

Second, the mindless "yOu'Re A rAcIsT" accusations are partially responsible for the president we have today. So, you can either knock off the manufactured outrage and baseless rAcIsM accusations, or keep going and help Vance or Rubio get elected in 2028.

 

[MFZZ]

Dude, it was someone on reddit that posted this, not me, don't taze me bro.

Second, the mindless "yOu'Re A rAcIsT" accusations are partially responsible for the president we have today. So, you can either knock off the manufactured outrage and baseless rAcIsM accusations, or keep going and help Vance or Rubio get elected in 2028.

You decided to type that, not the president. Get off reddit and go outside.

 

[32andBelow]

You decided to type that, not the president. Get off reddit and go outside.

Imagine still trying to defend the pres 😂