5/4/25 ~1305Z MEDEVAC STAT18 lifting Cedar Hill Medical Center in MD across the river to the East of DCA, requesting priority/direct route to GW in DC via Route 1. JIA5646 and DAL491 on final for Rwy 19 issued standard go-arounds to accommodate, due to the new separation rules and closure of helicopter Route 1 from Haynes Point to Chain Bridge. Based on ADSB-Exchanage tracks some aircraft on final approach were issued short delay vectors.
These type of go-arounds are the new normal for DCA with the new separation rules. Any medevac needing to fly South to North thru DCA West of P56-A will probably now trigger go-arounds and approach delays if Rwy 19 is active for arrivals.
Given the ongoing social media and news hype on go-arounds at DCA, posting this with the details for context, no doubt unfortunately the youtubers will over-sensationalize for clicks as "ANOTHER ABORTED LANDING AT DCA!" with hair-on-fire emojis, scary looking flight path thumbnails, and no context.
Combo of HELI and TWR 1300 feeds, edited for time and content and not-realtime etc.
