Reagan National Airport,
Washington DC
Ronald Reagan
Washington National Airport, DC, USA
International Airport code -
Reagan National Airport:
DCA
Official
Reagan National Airport
website: www.mwaa.com/national/
Airport facilities in Washington, D.C. had long been seriously
inadequate early in the 20th Century. Hoover Field, located near the
present site of the Pentagon, was the first major terminal to be developed in
the Capital area, opening its doors in 1926. The following year,
Washington Airport, another privately operated field, began service next door.
In 1930, the economics of the Great Depression caused the two terminals to merge
to form Washington-Hoover Airport. Bordered on the east by Highway One, with its
accompanying high-tension electrical wires, and obstructed by a high smokestack
on one approach and a dump nearby, the field was less than adequate. Incredibly,
the airport's one runway was intersected by a busy vehicular street, Military
Road, which had guards posted to flag down traffic during takeoffs and landings.
The Beginning:
Between 1926 and 1938, Congress produced reams of debate
transcripts and 37 committee reports on the need for a new airport, but no
action was taken. In the Fall of 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced
at a press conference that he was "tired of waiting for Congress" to select a
site for the new airport, and said that it would be built on mudflats on a bend
of the Potomac River at Gravelly Point, 4 ˝ miles south of Washington, D.C. Two
months later, on November 21, 1938, the first ceremonial shovelful of dirt was
moved to signal the start of construction.
Before the final site selection, flights were made over the area
with representatives of airline pilots, and year-round studies of weather
conditions were made by the U.S. Weather Bureau. It was found that the
approaches to proposed runways from eight directions were clear for such
distances as to provide flight angles of 40 to one. Several government agencies
cooperated with the newly formed Civil Aeronautics Board, predecessor agency to
the Federal Aviation Administration, in the construction of Washington National
Airport.
Additional assistance came from the Works Progress
Administration (WPA), the Public Works Administration (PWA), the Army Corps of
Engineers, the Department of the Interior's National Park Service and the Fine
Arts Commission.
BUILDING:
The bulk of the proposed airfield site was under water. Between
November 1938 and December 1939, almost 20 million cubic yards of sand and
gravel were moved onto the site.
The first step in construction was to erect a dike around the
riverside perimeter of the site. The second task was to clear the runway
locations of silt so that sand and gravel could be pumped in on top of a stable
base to eliminate the possibility of settling. Four hydraulic dredges, among the
largest and most powerful at that time, were put to work to clear the 11 feet of
silt from the future runway locations to a width of 200 feet. Then sand and
gravel were pumped from the riverbed into the canals which formed the runways up
to a height of 20 feet above the river level. By this method the runway base was
so stabilized that paving could be laid within six months after the fill was
completed.
AIRFIELD:
The airport was designed with four runways, the main north-south
at 6,855 feet long, a northwest-southeast at 5,210 feet, a northeast-southwest
at 4,892 feet, and an east-west at 4,100 feet in length.
THE TERMINAL BUILDING:
On September 28, 1940, two years to the day of the site
selection, President Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of the terminal building at
the dedication.
In their desire to house the most modern of all facilities
within the spirit of the classic architecture of the Nation’s Capital, the
designers of National Airport faced a difficult problem. The landscape planners
wanted the structures to fit into the architectural picture of the Capital and
to adhere to the colonial atmosphere of the site. The proposed design
represented a unique attempt to create a “modern” structure which still
integrated architectural references to the Colonial and Neoclassical style. Over
2 million people visited the airport during the first year; of that number,
344,257 were passengers.
The airport opened for business on June 16, 1941, with President
Roosevelt attending and observing the first official landing. American Airlines
won the honor, piloted by Bennett H. Griffin, who later became the manager of
the airport in 1947. The second inaugural landing was made by Eastern Airlines.
On opening day, just one hangar was completed and in operation and five were
under construction with a seventh in the planning stage.
At this time, National Airport was considered the “last word” in
airports – a concentration of the ultramodern developments in design of
buildings, handling of planes, air traffic and field traffic control, field
lighting, facilities for public comfort and convenience, and surface vehicle
traffic control.
NATIONAL OVER THE YEARS:
National Airport became a success, but a controversy over legal
jurisdiction began to brew. Was the airport located in Virginia or the District
of Columbia? The District "owned" the river to Virginia, claiming the boundary
had been set in 1846 at the high water mark along the shoreline. But since the
airport was built on a fill, a new eastern shoreline was created and the
question arose as to whether the District's authority ended at the new or the
original shore.
The problem went unresolved until 1945 when Congress approved a
bill that fixed the airport boundary at the mean high water mark, regardless of
changes, which put the airport in Virginia. However, the Congress established
exclusive federal jurisdiction over National Airport.
The first major expansion was completed in November 1950, when a
297-foot extension to the south end of the main terminal added 25,110 square
feet of space. Five years later, in 1955, the 587 by 17-foot south finger was
added increasing the square footage by 9,979 square feet and also providing
badly needed aircraft gates and loading positions. Over the years, the runways
have changed only slightly in length, except for the East-West runway which was
closed in 1956, and used as a taxiway and for aircraft parking. Today, the
airfield contains three runways. The main north-south runway (1/19) is 6,869
feet. In recent years, overruns were added to each end of that runway.
In the intervening years more space for passengers and aircraft
became necessary. In October 1958, the North Terminal was opened, adding an
additional 7,264 square feet of usable space. In 1961, the 772-foot long
passageway between the Main and the North Terminals was enclosed.
With 344,257 passengers in 1941, and the first million in 1946,
the annual number of passengers grew steadily until the late 1980's when the
number reached 16 million. Airport passenger number have remained between 15 and
16 million over recent years.
A TIME FOR RENEWAL
The federal government relinquished direct control of National
and Dulles Airports when President Ronald Reagan signed the transfer bill that
authorized the creation of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority in
1987.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is an independent
interstate agency created by legislation enacted by the Commonwealth of Virginia
and the District of Columbia, with the consent of the United States Congress,
for the purpose of operating Washington Dulles International and Ronald Reagan
Washington National Airports.
The Airports Authority operates this two airport system which
provides domestic and international air service for the Metropolitan Washington
region. In addition to operating Dulles and National, the Airports Authority, a
financially self-sustaining agency, is responsible for capital improvements at
both airports.
On February 6, 1998, President William Jefferson Clinton signed
into law the bill introduced and passed in Congress that changed the name of
Washington National Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
HIGHLIGHTS IN THE HISTORY OF NATIONAL
1938 President Roosevelt selected the site for the new
Washington National Airport.
1940 Dedication of the Washington National Airport by
President Roosevelt.
1941 Airport opened for business June 16th with
one hangar completed and five under construction.
1949 First fixed-based operator (private aircraft service
business) opened for general aviation business.
1950 South extension of Main Terminal completed.
1956 Runway 9/27 closed, became taxiway Alpha.
1958 North Terminal opened. Pan American Airlines first jet
(Boeing 707) christened at National Airport
1964 Construction of air cargo building.
1965 Construction of United Airlines holdrooms and ticketing
facilities completed.
1966 Jet aircraft began operating at National Airport.
1968 Opened new American Airlines’ facility and gates.
1970 Commuter Terminal Opened. NW / TWA facilities opened.
1973 Start of Metrorail construction on the airport.
1977 One-way road system placed into operation. Metrorail
service to the airport began.
1982 Night time noise level limitations policy put into
effect.
1986 Bill transferring the operation of National and Dulles
to a new regional Airports Authority was signed by President Reagan.
1987 The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority began
operations.
1989 Interim Terminal (Hangar 11) opened. Commuter Terminal
closed.
1991 First parking garage opened on the airport.
1993 Construction of the New Terminal started.
1996 Parking garage B/C opened.
1997 The New Terminal opened.
1998 Abingdon Plantation site restored and Exhibit Hall
opened.
1999 Completed improvements to Mt. Vernon Bridge Trail.
On July 27, 1997, National Airport was transformed by the
official opening of the new Terminal which offers modern, efficient facilities
that include direct connections to Metrorail and new parking garages via
enclosed pedestrian bridges. The three-level, one million square foot terminal
houses 35 aircraft gates and “National Hall”, a main street for shops and
eateries on the concourse level.
The terminal provides 100 ticket counters, 12 baggage claims,
three piers where airline gates are located and a passenger connector the
Terminal A. To enhance the spacious, passenger friendly environment, the
terminal offers an unparalleled view of the Nation’s Capital and works of art
from 30 artists are incorporated into the structure of the terminal using
various designs – glass, marble, mosaic, terrazzo, murals, balustrades and
sculpture.
Renowned architect Cesar Pelli designed a Washington landmark
that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Pelli’s design included a
large window overlooking airport operations and the Washington, D.C. skyline,
and the building is adorned with 54 “Jeffersonian” domes that establish a
connection with the architecture of the region.
| 