ICAO Code | KADW/ADW |
Last Validated | 10-2022 |
City | Washington, DC |
Position | 38°48'39"N 076°52'01"W |
Runway(s) | 01L/19R, 01R/19L |
Elevation | 279 ft |
Joint Base Andrews is mostly known because it houses the VC-25s, better known as Air Force One when the president is aboard. Andrews is a base that is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week because the Pentagon is so nearby. Many VIP planes arrive and depart from Andrews daily. Only the regular F-16 missions are paused outside 'office hours' but their DC ANG unit is one of the busiest in the USAF. Both runways are commonly used. Normally the eastern runway is most used by fighters and the runway on the west side is used by VIP planes because these are closest to their respective hangars.
General tip: Do not stay at any spot too long. Keep an eye on ADS-B, most visitors and 89AW planes are visible, fighters and most helicopters are not. Make your way to your preferred spot when something is inbound and try to hide your big lenses as much as possible. Many people are not aware that information we gather this way is also available elsewhere and this is just a hobby. Locals are rumoured to call police quite quickly and you most likely will be sent away, sometimes having to remove your photos from your card is what is being said, even though you cannot be legally forced to do so as long as you are not taking pictures of any infrastructure or military premises.
The base is centered on a pair of north-south runways, both between 9000 and 10000 feet long (nearly 3000m). The whole of it is considerably larger than the airfield part, although that has been expanded to the southwest recently. Aditionally, it is completely surrouned by urban and business areas, and trees. This makes viewing aircraft that are on the ground very difficult. In fact, only from the north side some numbers may be read off.
Caution: be aware that appreciation of our hobby by the authorities or even the public is very unlikely at Andrews.
Andrews is located just southeast of Washington (DC) so a short drive from the US capital brings you to Andrews AFB. The city's ring road, the Capital Beltway I(4)95, runs along the northwestern perimeter of the base. Highway 4 is actually the extended Pennsylvania Avenue that starts at the Library of Congress, adjacent to Capitol Hill.
The signature aircraft for Joint Base Andrews, a VC-25, is seen landing from spot 7 in the evening. (Bart Stringa)
Andrews is challenging for photos but from spot 10, large aircraft landing on runway 1L can be captured just fine in the morning, as demonstrated by Bart Stringa.
285.475 / 127.550 | Clearance Delivery |
275.800 / 121.800 | Ground |
349.000 / 118.400 | Tower |
257.200 / 118.950 | Potomac Departure West |
348.725 / 125.650 | Potomac Departure East |
335.500 / 128.000 | Potomac Approach |
335.500 / 125.340 | GCA |
360.800 / 379.200 | GCA |
251.050 / 133.675 | ATIS |
349.400 / 141.550 | Command Post |
351.200 / 143.800 | AFRC Operations |
139.3 / 372.2 / 386.8 | Pilot to Dispatcher |
344.600 | Pilot to Metro Service |
89th AW | VC-25A, C-32A, C-37A/B, C-40B |
11th Wg | UH-1N |
113th Wg | F-16C/D, C-40C |
459th ARW | KC-135R |
495th FG | F-16C/D |
VR-1 | C-37A/B |
VR-53 | C-130T |
MAG-49/VMR Det. | UC-12M, UC-35D |
About half a dozen aircraft are being preserved on base. We list the two that may be visible from outside the fence, foliage permitting i.e. in Winter. | |
66-7661/DC | F-4D in ANG area, may be visible from junction of Dower House Rd and Old Marlboro Pike |
56-3880/HE | F-100F in ANG area, may be visible from Dower House Rd south of Old Marlboro Pike |
Joint Base Andrews | Official public website |
Baltimore-Washington - Intl   | |
Hagerstown - Washington County Regional | |
Joint Base Andrews (Camp Springs) / NAF Washington   | |
Martin State   | |
Washington - Reagan National   |
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