Missing the Point

Few situations require quick judgment like deciding to go missed with weather at minimums. Arriving at missed approach point or decision altitude, the pilot must determine if the runway environment is in sight and the required flight visibility is evident. If these conditions are met, is the aircraft in a position to land and is the runway condition suitable? All of this must be accomplished while flying through a sea of obstructions at about 150…

Key Takeaways:

• Executing a missed approach requires precise and timely decision-making at the Decision Altitude/Missed Approach Point (DA/MAP), as starting too late, too low, or turning too early can place the aircraft outside protected obstacle clearance areas.
• Missed approaches are designed around a 40:1 obstacle clearance gradient and assume a minimum 200 ft/nm climb rate from the DA/MAP, making timely initiation and adherence to this performance crucial for safety.
• Pilots must understand that non-standard approach minimums or increased climb requirements for missed approaches often exist due to terrain, necessitating a review of the Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP) or specific aircraft climb performance.

Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->

See a mistake? Contact us.