Aerodrome & Circuit
Don't Hesitate to Go Around
If you're not happy at any point on the approach, go around: power up, pitch up, clean up, then make the radio call once climbing away.
1 min readKapiti Aero Club safety team
Bumpy, gusty conditions are a good prompt to refresh both the importance and the procedure of a go-around.
A go-around may be necessary for many reasons. You may have misjudged something – simple pilot error – or it could be the result of someone or something else. Whatever the reason, if you're not happy at any time during the approach, don't hesitate to go around. If you're ever unsure, it's always safer to power up and try again.
Keep it simple during a go-around – don't try to do multiple things at once. Remember the order:
- Power up
- Pitch up
- Clean up
- Radio call – once the aircraft is climbing away and everything is in order.
Always: Aviate, Navigate, Communicate.