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
METAR KDCA 030852Z 36005KT 10SM FEW130 FEW250 15/08 A3022 RMK AO2 SLP233 T01500078 53002Wind 360° at 5 kt — likely active runway near heading 36
Current TAF
TAF KDCA 030856Z 0309/0412 03003KT P6SM FEW130 FEW250 FM031300 35007KT P6SM FEW220 FM031500 36012KT P6SM SKC FM032200 01007KT P6SM SKC FM040100 00000KT P6SM SKCDecode 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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