Wait lines at Dulles? There’s a website for that.

Need to catch a flight but want to wait until the last minute? It would help to know how long the wait lines are at security at Washington Dulles International Airport.

Technology has come to the rescue. Bookmark this site to find the current wait lines for the east and west security checkpoints.

If you want to see historical wait times, David Alpert at Greater Greater Washington has been crunching statistics and has some very nerdy charts.

But they aren’t real grenades and guns, officer!

It’s incredible but true: if caught with a smoke grenade as opposed to a real grenade, or a stun gun instead of a real gun, you won’t be arrested and you can proceed to board your flight at Washington Dulles International Airport. From ABC News 7:

A Great Falls, Va. man tried to take a live smoke grenade on board an airplane Sunday, police say.

Transportation Security Administration officers found the grenade hidden under the inner lining of the man’s bag at Washington Dulles International Airport.

Two days earlier, police say a passenger tried to take a stun gun on board an airplane at Dulles. The TSA confiscated the stun gun and the man continued on his flight to Charlotte. He was not charged.

Nearly four pounds of cocaine confiscated at Washington Dulles

From the Washington Post:

Customs officials say nearly four pounds of cocaine was found hidden in drink boxes and a spice bottle at Washington Dulles International Airport.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Tuesday that officers found the cocaine Saturday night in the luggage of two Guatemalan men arriving from El Salvador. Officials say they found about six ounces of cocaine in a garlic salt bottle and almost 3 1/2 pounds in four drink boxes.

Customs officials say 44-year-old Esteban Gustavo Ischiu Rojas and 42-year-old Jose Victor Munoz Lemus were traveling together and presented themselves as couriers on business travel. Officials say the two were turned over to police for prosecution on drug charges. An immigration detainer was also placed on them.

Newest 747 model lands at Dulles, begins 6 day a week route to Germany

The first Boeing 747 was rolled off the line around the time man first landed on the moon in 1969. It’s still being produced, and each version gets a bit longer. The newest version, 747-8, has begun six day a week service between Frankfurt, Germany and Washington Dulles Airport, according to the Herndon Connection. The 747-8 is owned by Lufthansa, a German airline.

According to Wikipedia:

Boeing announced a new 747 variant, the 747-8, on November 14, 2005. Referred to as the 747 Advanced prior to its launch, the 747-8 uses the same engine and cockpit technology as the 787, hence the use of the “8″. The variant is designed to be quieter, more economical, and more environmentally friendly. The 747-8′s fuselage is lengthened from 232 to 251 feet (70.8 to 76.4 m), marking the first stretch variant of the aircraft. Power is supplied by General Electric GEnx-2B67 engines.

Dulles (and Rachel Carson Middle School) welcome shuttle Discovery home

The space shuttle Discovery landed at Washington Dulles International Airport this morning, it’s destination being the Udvar-Hazy Center. It was easy to spot from Rachel Carson Middle School in Oak Hill as it made it’s approach. Picture courtesy of the Fairfax County Public Schools.

Welcome home Discovery!

Space shuttle Discovery arrives at Dulles

Space shuttle Discovery arrives at Dulles

Southwest airlines baggage handler crushed, dies from Dulles injury

A crash between a mobile lounge and a Southwest Airlines baggage truck apparently caused the death of the driver of the baggage truck today. The incident occurred Thursday at Washington Dulles International Airport. Southwest Airlines released the following statement:

On Thursday, Jan. 26, at approximately 7am, a Southwest Employee was involved in a collision between a baggage cart and a mobile lounge at Washington Dulles Airport. Immediately following the accident, the injured Employee was rushed to an area hospital to receive medical attention. We learned earlier today, Friday, Jan. 27, that the Employee passed away as a result of injuries sustained in the accident. We continue to work with all relevant agencies, including the local authorities and the airport, to investigate events surrounding the accident. The Southwest Airlines Family is greatly saddened by the passing of our Southwest Family Member, and we extend our heartfelt sympathies and support to his entire family at this time.

Almost a pound of heroin found in stomach of Dulles passenger

This sounds like a load of indigestion … and a likely long term prison sentence.

Authorities say an airline passenger at Washington Dulles International Airport has been arrested after they found almost a pound of heroin in his stomach.

Court documents say an officer patted him down and that Adetokunbo flinched when his stomach was touched. Adetokunbo was taken to a hospital for an X-ray, which revealed foreign items.

EADS/Airbus Americas moving to Dulles

From a Washington Post story:

Aerospace company EADS North America and subsidiary Airbus Americas are to relocate in November to a new building overlooking Dulles Airport as part of a consolidation effort.

As a result, EADS is to vacate space in two Rosslyn office buildings, including one that sported its logo up until last week, while Airbus is to leave its Herndon location. The move makes EADS the latest to leave the traditional contracting stronghold along the Potomac River, following Northrop Grumman’s departure for Falls Church and Boeing’s decision to consolidate its local operations in a new facility in Crystal City.