Reagan National Airport Question

mfh | 9-26-01 | My Favorite Headache

[My Favorite Headache]

I have a question about RNA in D.C. , why don't they just turn it into a military base? Just have military flights out of there and the president can fly out of there and the members of congress and the senate can still use it as well for business and to go home. Build another airport somewhere else , and this way in the case of an attack our defenses are right there and at the ready? It seems the only sensible option to go with. Comments? Anyone care to pass this idea along to anyone?

[Free the USA]

Congressmen fly commercial.

[My Favorite Headache]

Yes I know but in a sense to make it a bit convienent and build a top notch base they would be able to hitch a ride home. I realize that this in theory could be abused but I would rather have a new base right outside the White House and D.C. then not have one at all one day.

[the herald]

How about a theme park?

[My Favorite Headache]

If this airport does not re-open soon a ton of jobs are going to be cut and some airlines are going under. I am very curious to see what happens with RNA.

[KantianBurke]

Its just too dangerous to re-open. In flight, a plane is less than a minute away from the Capitol, the White House and the Pentagon. And since the FAA and Mineta aren't serious about beefing up security it deserves to be shut down.

[My Favorite Headache]

Agreed. That is why my thinking in the long run is military and a phase out of commercial flights.

[KantianBurke]

How about this. They institute Israeli style security for flighs going to and from RNA and they reopen it on a limited commerical basis?

[Vigilant1]

I had the same thought. RNA would be the perfect place to station Air Force One, Marine One (the President's helo) and a half-squardon (12 planes) of F-16s, with four on ready alert 24/7. Receiving foriegn dignitaries is another obvious service it could provide. Since it's close to Chespeake Bay, Coast Guard aircraft could use it as well. Another acceptible use would be for the US Marshalls Service 'ConAir' flights.

I suppose RNA could also be used for commercial freight, if FedEx and other frieght companies were willing to take special security precautions. If the bulk of such cargo flights into DC were sent into RNA, that would free up the runways at other local airports for passenger flights. High-speed rail links from outlying airports into D.C. would be very helpful as well.

[Non-Sequitur]

My vote is that once the improved security measures are in place that Reagan National be reopened for commercial passenger traffic. What better sign that the terrorists will never win than to reopen the airport named after the victor of the cold war?

[Keith in Iowa]

Those Congress-critters should do like the rest of the general public in the greater DC area - fly in/out of Dulles or BWI; and - turn Reagan National into an Air Force base, maybe turn Andrews AFB into a commercial airport if they really need it.

[Non-Sequitur]

"...maybe turn Andrews AFB into a commercial airport if they really need it."

Andrews is in Camp Springs, Md. which is only about 10 miles south east of the White House. It would be only marginally safer as a commercial airport and would cost hundreds of millions to convert to commercial use. You might as well reopen Reagan National.

[John W]

The passengers on the four planes died just as surely as those in the targeted structures did.If our federal government wants me to fly again,they can reopen the airport on their doorstep and prove their new security measures are serious.