Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 94; Flight Crew Total 10203; Flight Crew Type 2471
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Airport; Human Factors; Procedure
We were flying the Mount Vernon visual to runway 1 at DCA. There were multiple aircraft on arrival and on ground waiting to takeoff. At 1500 ft tower asked us to perform an S turn to the left; to which we complied. We lined back up on final at approximately 1200 ft. I believe inside 1000 ft tower cleared an aircraft into position on runway 1. Shortly thereafter; they cleared another aircraft on runway 33 for takeoff. AT THE SAME TIME; they cleared this aircraft for takeoff as soon as the other aircraft was clear of the intersection. So; they cleared two aircraft for takeoff at the same time. If the one aircraft misunderstood their clearance and commenced their takeoff right when they received their clearance; disaster could have occurred. However; the aircraft also didn't commence their takeoff when the other aircraft cleared the intersection. We continued on our approach and just when I was about to tell the FO (First Officer) to go around as it was clear the aircraft would not be off the runway prior to our landing; tower gave us a go around call and provided a heading to the right. I didn't catch the altitude. I don't know if the tower was stepped on; didn't provide an altitude or I didn't hear because I was also listening to the FO and raising gear; flaps and dialing in the heading. Either way; I asked the tower to confirm the altitude and they didn't respond. Also; there were many aircraft on frequency and I was unable to get a second altitude confirmation requested. At this point; we saw another aircraft approximately 800 ft above us but with sufficient lateral separation. We had 3000 ft set as a go around altitude; but we stopped our climb at 2000 ft; due to the traffic. At this time tower gave us a frequency change to departure. Straight away I asked them for an altitude to which they replied 2000 ft. We continued around for another visual landing which was uneventful. The concern for us was the right turn and knowing that there are numerous restricted areas in that vicinity. All takeoffs and engine failures for Runway 1 are to the left. There is no published missed approach procedure for the visual to runway 1 and is so stated on the approach plate. The aircraft we saw on TCAS was a departure from Andrews. I called tower on my drive home and spoke to the supervisor who was aware of our go around. I expressed my safety concerns and [supervisor] said all [ATC] could do was apologize and said they expected the one plane to begin their takeoff roll earlier. I replied that even if they had begun their roll earlier; it was still too close to our landing and they shouldn't have cleared them into position when we were inside 1000 ft. [ATC] also stated our turn would normally be to the right but that there were multiple aircraft on the departure and arrival in that direction.My main safety concerns are: tower clearing an aircraft into position while we were well into our approach and inside 1000 ft. Tower issuing two takeoff clearances at the same time to aircraft on intersecting runways. No published missed approach for the Mount Vernon Visual. Tower not confirming our cleared go around altitude when there was traffic in the direction they cleared us.
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
Air carrier Captain reported of conflicting airport traffic upon arrival at DCA compelling both ATC and the Captain to decide to call for a go-around.