Living in the Flight Path of Dulles International Airport
Dulles International Airport affects many communities from Ashburn to Centreville. Depending on the prevailing winds, you may be on the approach path, or departure route from one day to the next.
Having lived in Centreville, VA's community of Asher View for about four years, I can tell you that living in the traffic area of Dulles Airport was actually something my husband and I enjoyed. Of course, my husband is a recreational pilot and we would sit on our deck and listen to the approach frequencies to hear who was about to pass overhead.
It took some time for me to not be awakened by the red eyes from the West Coast flying over our bedroom at 5am. One particular morning, our remote controlled ceiling fan was activated by some frequency coming from one of those red eye flights. All of a sudden, the fan was on full blast and the lights were on as bright as they got. Very freaky. By then, I had been used to the planes. It was the sudden whirl of wind and light that got my attention. Only happened once and still makes me laugh to think about.
In the days following September 11th, when the airspace in the United States was shut down, there was an eery quiet over my neighborhood. I found it was so quiet I couldn't sleep. I was happy when the planes started flying into Dulles again.
Not everyone would enjoy living in the approach path of Dulles Airport, but I did. And when I represent buyers who are looking for homes in Sterling, Ashburn, Chantilly, Herndon, South Riding or Centreville, I will definitely make a point of noticing the airplanes overhead. You don't have to wait long. They arrive and depart at one minute intervals during peak hours.
These shots were taken during a home inspection in Sterling. My buyer and I sat and watched the traffic on approach to Dulles. Planes appeared much larger in person. His only complaint was that he wouldn't see them from his deck. He was the perfect buyer to live in the shadow of Dulles Airport.
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