Narrative:

Regarding: washington national VOR DME 18 approach. The VOR DME 18 approach incorporates a visual descent point (vdp) 2.2 NM from dca VOR at which point you can descend below the MDA of 720 ft. I think that this can leave an aircraft too high at a point too close to the end of runway 18. I was told the vdp was there to reduce noise level rather than because of any physical obstruction. If this is the case, the vdp should be removed because large aircraft need the extra 8/10 mi to make a stabilized descent especially with reduced visibility and the maneuvering over the river which is involved. Safety should take precedence over noise abatement.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THE RPTR FEELS THAT BEING REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN 720 FT UNTIL 2 PT 2 DME PLACES THE PLT TOO HIGH TO MAKE A SAFE STRAIGHT IN APCH TO RWY 18.

Narrative: REGARDING: WASHINGTON NATIONAL VOR DME 18 APCH. THE VOR DME 18 APCH INCORPORATES A VISUAL DSCNT POINT (VDP) 2.2 NM FROM DCA VOR AT WHICH POINT YOU CAN DSND BELOW THE MDA OF 720 FT. I THINK THAT THIS CAN LEAVE AN ACFT TOO HIGH AT A POINT TOO CLOSE TO THE END OF RWY 18. I WAS TOLD THE VDP WAS THERE TO REDUCE NOISE LEVEL RATHER THAN BECAUSE OF ANY PHYSICAL OBSTRUCTION. IF THIS IS THE CASE, THE VDP SHOULD BE REMOVED BECAUSE LARGE ACFT NEED THE EXTRA 8/10 MI TO MAKE A STABILIZED DSCNT ESPECIALLY WITH REDUCED VISIBILITY AND THE MANEUVERING OVER THE RIVER WHICH IS INVOLVED. SAFETY SHOULD TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER NOISE ABATEMENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.