Robert Hamilton

For me, it was DCA - Washington National. Back in the day (early 1990's), all you needed was a class B (or TCA) clearance to enter VFR. The same for departing.

On one particularly nice, but breezy spring day with the winds out of the east, I was cleared for takeoff on runway 3, maintain runway heading on climb out, until clear of P-56, then on course. On most days with a normal west wind, that clearance would take you just east of P-56. On this day, however, it was clear I would overfly the US Capitol on runway heading. Not a good thing to stray into prohibited airspace!

With the usual constant banter on the frequency, I could not request a heading change, so I enacted my PIC authority and adjusted the heading just enough to fly a continuous circuitous route around the east steps of the Capitol before heading northwest to Frederick. Nice! Those days are gone, but the memories still linger.

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For me, it was DCA - Washington National. Back in the day (early 1990's), all you needed was a class B (or TCA) clearance to enter VFR. The same for departing.

On one particularly nice, but breezy spring day with the winds out of the east, I was cleared for takeoff on runway 3, maintain runway heading on climb out, until clear of P-56, then on course. On most days with a normal west wind, that clearance would take you just east of P-56. On this day, however, it was clear I would ... more