Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA)
Washington D.C., United States · North America
By Renzo, CPL
ICAO
KDCA
IATA
DCA
City
Washington D.C.
Country
United States
Region
North America
Elevation
15 ft
Runways
3 runways
Coordinates
38.8512, -77.0402
Overview
Close-in airport to the capital with strict airspace restrictions. The River Visual to Runway 19 is iconic.
Current Weather at KDCA
Pilots flying into or out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport should always check the latest METAR (Meteorological Aerodrome Report) before departure. A METAR is a standardized weather observation issued every hour (or more frequently as a SPECI when conditions change rapidly). It includes wind direction and speed, visibility, cloud layers, temperature, dewpoint, and altimeter setting -- everything you need for a safe go/no-go decision.
Live conditions
Current METAR
SPECI KDCA 210111Z 01006KT 10SM FEW060 BKN085 BKN110 25/18 A3004 RMK AO2 TSE11 OCNL LTGIC DSNT NW-N CB DSNT NW-N MOV NE T02500178Wind 010° at 6 kt — likely active runway near heading 01
Current TAF
TAF KDCA 210058Z 2101/2206 33007KT P6SM VCTS SCT060CB BKN090 OVC100 TEMPO 2101/2103 6SM -SHRA OVC040 FM210600 01005KT P6SM OVC020 PROB30 2106/2110 P6SM -SHRA -DZ OVC015 FM211000 03009KT 6SM -SHRA SCT007 OVC011 FM211800 03011KT 6SM -SHRA OVC007Decode METAR for KDCA
Paste the KDCA METAR into our free decoder and get a plain-English breakdown instantly.
Check Weather Before Your Flight
A thorough weather briefing is essential for safe flight operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Here are the key weather products every pilot should review:
- METARHourly surface observation for KDCA. Includes wind, visibility, ceiling, temp/dewpoint, and altimeter.
- TAFTerminal Aerodrome Forecast covering the next 24-30 hours. Look for expected wind shifts, visibility changes, and precipitation.
- NOTAMNotices to Air Missions for KDCA. Check for runway closures, taxiway restrictions, and navaid outages.
- PIREPPilot Reports from aircraft near Washington D.C.. Real-world turbulence, icing, and cloud top reports.
- SIG/AIRMETArea forecasts for significant weather, turbulence, and icing that may affect operations around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Learn to read sectional charts to plan your route visually, and use our crosswind calculator to check runway compatibility with current winds.
Pilot Resources at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Radio Frequencies
Always verify current frequencies in the Chart Supplement (formerly A/FD) before flight. Common frequencies for airports like KDCA include ATIS/AWOS, Ground, Tower (if towered), Approach/Departure, and Clearance Delivery. Frequencies change -- never rely on outdated sources.
Flight Schools Nearby
Browse flight schools near Washington D.C. and compare training programs.
Private Pilot Guide
Everything you need to earn your PPL, from requirements to checkride prep.
METAR Decoder
Decode any METAR report into plain English. Free tool for student and experienced pilots.
Sectional Chart Guide
Learn to read VFR sectional charts for navigation around Washington D.C..
Training Availability
No On-Field Training Reported
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is primarily a commercial operations airport. Check nearby GA airports for flight training options.
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