Narrative:

On a normal approach to dca runway 1 circle to land runway 33; as we began to flare; about 40 feet AGL and at idle thrust; ATC started screaming (not an exaggeration) for us to go around. Maneuver was accomplished by the first officer. We were told by ATC that the go around was ordered by the airport authority. After another normal approach and this time landing; I called the tower on my cell phone. I was told that the airport was conducting a disaster drill and a fire truck had crossed the hold short line on runway 1. This is what initiated the go around order. The tower person said that our go around was; in their opinion; a safe operation. I explained in detail the consequences of a low energy go around in our configuration. They said that their actions were the safest under the circumstances. I brought up the fact that the fire truck was on different runway; we were not in a proper configuration for a go around; and they should have just told the truck driver to stop. They told me that that had limited communication with the fire truck and could not contact him! I expressed my complete dissatisfaction with their actions and they essentially ignored me. I ended the conversation. The first officer performed perfectly during the go around and was in complete control of the plane. We were light; about 40k lbs; and that helped. At no time were we in doubt of the outcome; but we were upset and a little angry with ATC. We could have landed safely and had a normal day. The only reason that we went around was because of the screaming urgency of the radio call during our landing sequence. Not being able to communicate with a fire truck on a runway is about the lamest excuse that I have ever heard. I would suggest airports not do disaster drills during normal airport operations and that ground control be in constant communications with vehicles on the active airport surfaces. Use common sense. The fire truck was a half mile away from where we were. It wasn't going to interrupt our landing.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CRJ Captain felt a low altitude go around initiated by ATC due to a runway incursion by a fire truck participating in a disaster preparedness exercise was inappropriate.

Narrative: On a normal approach to DCA Runway 1 circle to land Runway 33; as we began to flare; about 40 feet AGL and at idle thrust; ATC started screaming (not an exaggeration) for us to go around. Maneuver was accomplished by The First Officer. We were told by ATC that the go around was ordered by the airport authority. After another normal approach and this time landing; I called the Tower on my cell phone. I was told that the airport was conducting a disaster drill and a fire truck had crossed the hold short line on Runway 1. This is what initiated the go around order. The Tower person said that our go around was; in their opinion; a safe operation. I explained in detail the consequences of a low energy go around in our configuration. They said that their actions were the safest under the circumstances. I brought up the fact that the fire truck was on different runway; we were not in a proper configuration for a go around; and they should have just told the truck driver to stop. They told me that that had limited communication with the fire truck and could not contact him! I expressed my complete dissatisfaction with their actions and they essentially ignored me. I ended the conversation. The First Officer performed perfectly during the go around and was in complete control of the plane. We were light; about 40k lbs; and that helped. At no time were we in doubt of the outcome; but we were upset and a little angry with ATC. We could have landed safely and had a normal day. The only reason that we went around was because of the screaming urgency of the radio call during our landing sequence. Not being able to communicate with a fire truck on a runway is about the lamest excuse that I have ever heard. I would suggest airports not do disaster drills during normal airport operations and that Ground Control be in constant communications with vehicles on the active airport surfaces. Use common sense. The fire truck was a half mile away from where we were. It wasn't going to interrupt our landing.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.