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 correctly requires initiating a positive climb at or before the Missed Approach Point (MAP)/Decision Altitude (DA) and above the Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA) to ensure adequate obstacle clearance within the designed 200 ft/nm climb gradient.
• Deviations such as initiating the missed approach too late, too low, or turning prematurely can place the aircraft outside the protected obstacle clearance area, significantly compromising safety.
• Pilots must understand that non-standard approach minimums often arise from obstacles on the missed approach segment, sometimes requiring higher climb rates or referencing the Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP) if below minimums, which demands careful aircraft performance assessment.

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