Nine Occasions for Circumlocution
Going Around: Your Guide to Aborting Landings
Sometimes, things don't go as planned during a landing. In such situations, it's crucial to know when to go around. Here are eightcommon scenarios where a go-around is your best bet.
1) Hanging Out with the Neighbor
If the aircraft ahead of you hasn't vacated the runway, you need to give it some space. Lack of adequate separation between your plane and another airplane moving along the same runway signals it's time to go around.
2) Wind Shear Dance
Sometimes, the wind plays a tricky tune, switching from a headwind to a tailwind, causing a rapid decrease in airspeed. When this happens, saving the landing becomes nearly impossible. Just go-around and high-tail it out of there!
3) Air Traffic Control's Call
The tower controller may ask you to go around for various reasons. Typically, it's due to insufficient separation from another aircraft or a runway that's no longer clear.
4) Off-Kilter Approach
During final approach, you should be on-speed, in the right configuration, and aligned with the runway's centerline. If you're making large corrections or significant changes, it's time to go-around before you find yourself in a mess.
5) Porpoise Dancing
A porpoise landing is a bounced landing that, if not recovered, results in your plane diving and jumping like a real porpoise. To prevent this, immediately execute a go-around when you see it happening because recovering from porpoising is tricky business.
6) Missed Base-to-Final Turn
We've all been there – blast through the extended centerline of the runway due to a misjudged turn or a tailwind on base. When this happens, go-around and try again.
7) Floating Far and Wide
Excessive airspeed on roundout leads to floating, usually caused by ground effect and wingtip vortices. Gradually adjust pitch to settle the airplane down as airspeed bleeds off. Before you land, pick a go-around point somewhere down the runway. If you're not landing and braking before that point, go around.
8) First Thought, Best Thought
If you realize you missed completing your checklists or forgot to configure your plane for landing, go-around and try again. Don't rush or skip checklists; they're there to keep you safe.
9) Trust Your Gut
If your approach feels a bit off, trust your instincts and go around. Give yourself time to set up again and make another attempt at landing.
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- In the event of an aircraft ahead of you not vacating the runway, you must prioritize separation, leading to a necessity for a go-around.
- When unexpected wind shear causes a rapid decrease in airspeed during landing, going around and swiftly exiting the zone is advisable.
- If the air traffic control tower instructs you to go around due to insufficient separation or an unclear runway, comply without delay.
- During the final approach, if you're making significant corrections or changes, consider a go-around before the situation escalates.
- A porpoise landing, characterized by bouncing and diving, requires an immediate go-around to prevent potentially dangerous consequences.
- When a missed base-to-final turn leads to straying beyond the runway's extended centerline, go-around and attempt the landing again.
- Floating far and wide on roundout due to excessive airspeed can be corrected by gradual pitch adjustment. Designate a go-around point, and execute one if you're not landing and braking before that point.
- If you realize you missed checklist items or neglected to prepare your aircraft for landing, go-around and try again to ensure the safety protocols are followed.
- If you feel intuitively that your approach isn't right, trust your gut, go around, and take the time to set up again for another landing attempt.
To become a better pilot, consider our Mastering Takeoffs and Landings course here.
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