Going Around

It has been said that every approach to a landing—whether from the VFR traffic pattern or an ILS, and everything in between, should be treated as a a go-around situation. If conditions are conducive to actually, you know, landing, then by all means do so. But be prepared—spring-loaded, some advise—to execute a go-around balked landing or rejected landing, whatever the term du jour is. That’s all well and good, but there are two problems. The first is determining when to go around. The other and larger problem is what happens when pilots make that decision. Sadly, they often mishandle the maneuver and wind up in the weeds next to the runway or prang it onto the pavement just past the threshold.

Editorial Staff

Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Pilots should maintain a "go-around" mindset for every landing, being prepared to execute the maneuver decisively and without reversal once initiated.
A safe go-around requires a deliberate sequence: smoothly apply power to arrest descent, establish the correct pitch attitude, and then progressively retract flaps (partially first) before the landing gear.
Go-arounds are frequently mishandled, leading to accidents, underscoring the critical need for planned actions, precise sequencing of controls, and consistent practice.

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That’s all well and good, but there are two problems. The first is determining when to go around. The other and larger problem is what happens when pilots make that decision. Sadly, they often mishandle the maneuver and wind up in the weeds next to the runway or prang it onto the pavement just past the threshold. The accident record is littered with examples of go-arounds that didn’t work, for whatever reasons. Let’s try to demystify some of this, and provide a set of procedures which should suit almost everyone, IFR or not.