Unusual Approach: Why Do Aircraft Turn At The Last Minute Before Landing At Reagan National Airport?

Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA) is a key airport for the capital city of the US. Situated just a stone’s throw from the city center across the Potomac River, the airport is an important short-haul base for American Airlines and its American Eagle regional brand, and is known for having one of the most picturesque approaches in the whole of the US. But why do planes landing there make such late turns?