Unfamiliar departure out of DCA?

Posted by drdsheen@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 6 comments

I live very close to DCA and so I routinely see northbound departures flying up the Potomac. A couple nights ago, I saw a departing aircraft turn roughly 090 immediately after takeoff from runway 01, putting it directly over Arlington (and most certainly NOT following the river). I checked ADSB which confirms what I thought I saw. Then I saw it happen again about five minutes later, so it's not a fluke. I checked the published departures and none of them direct aircraft this way, and I'm curious about what's going on.

Is this a new thing out of DCA, or am I just noticing it for the first time?