It’s important to know how and when to perform a go-around. [Credit: Meg Godlewski]
Key Takeaways:
Go-arounds (balked landings) are critical safety maneuvers, often more important than successful landings, as attempting to salvage an unstable or problematic approach frequently leads to accidents.
Pilots must be proficient in executing go-arounds, understanding essential techniques like incremental flap retraction, appropriate rudder use to counteract left-turning tendencies, and proper aircraft trimming for control.
A go-around should be initiated whenever landing parameters deviate from expectations, such as during unstable approaches, forgotten pre-landing checks, unexpected runway obstacles, or when instructed by ATC or a flight instructor.
This is what my instructor said when he taught me how to do a go-around, also known as a balked landing. Knowing when not to land is more important than how to land because trying to salvage a bad landing often leads to an accident.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
![It’s important to know how to do a go-around. [Credit: Meg Godlewski]](https://www.flyingmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/VFR-into-IFR-smoke-scaled-e1681249141756.jpg)
