Hassan,

I took an ATC Familiarization Flight to DCA when I was first hired with the FAA. After checking-in with the Captain and presenting my credentials, he introduced me to his co-pilot who was on his FIRST flight after completing whatever training you guys go through. The Captain then grinned and asked me if I'd ever "done the River Approach". Huh? He just smiled and said that I was in for a treat.

As we approached DCA, the Captain prepared the co-pilot for what was about to happen. He told me to enjoy the ride and to look for white knuckles from the right seat.

Needless to say, we all had a blast. I couldn't believe that we were that low flying through... a neighborhood... or a college campus? The Captain did an excellent job of coaching the rookie right-seater through all of the maneuvers that were required. And YES -- his knuckles were white!

I saw the runway ahead and to our right and thought that there was just no way that we were going to land. Banking right... turning... oh God.. wings level... touchdown and rollout! Three cheers from the cockpit!

It was really cool. I had the impression that the Captain enjoyed this particular approach; that the Captain enjoyed teaching the rookie pilot how to fly the approach; and that he was glad to see an ATCer in the cockpit to see what he saw each and every day "at work".

MEM_ATC