Military Transport
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 1
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness; Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic
Human Factors; Airspace Structure; Procedure; Aircraft
This is an ongoing situation involving VIP movements from ADW to P56A and P56B as well as movements to ADW.  There are no set procedures in place.  If the movement takes place during a slow traffic period; it's normally not too much of a problem.  On this particular day; Aircraft X was departing ADW to P56B during our most busy 30 minute arrival push with very strong winds.  Arrivals were stopped 3 minutes before Aircraft X lifted from ADW.  This caused all the arrival controllers to spin numerous aircraft with limited altitudes available.When Aircraft X got near DCA they decided to turn eastbound towards RFK stadium for some unknown reason causing more problems.  It's only a matter of time before one of these movements contributes to a major error or worse.  The expense to the airlines should also be factored in as well. There are two routes that are normally used.  One impacts traffic more than the other.  We never know what route they are on and if we ask; we are told as previously coordinated. Nobody at PCT has this information and I'm not sure if the DCA tower has it or not.  The route should be declassified for ATC eyes only; five minutes before lift-off.  Also Aircraft X never takes the least impacting route; which should be considered if the traffic volume at DCA is high.  A study should be done to assess the delays attributed to these movements.  Also the addition of other routes should be looked into that may be used to decrease or maybe even eliminate delays at DCA.  I've been told this issue has been raised before; but politically motivated entities have deterred improvements on our present way of doing things.
PCT Controller reports of confusion of routes when VIP flights depart the DCA airport.