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Old 15th Sep 2017, 05:42
  #94 (permalink)  
Centaurus
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Australia
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You've made the decision to go missed, so go missed. What is one of the instructions in any missed approach procedure? Climb to xxxx. So climb. Don't stay level "in hope of getting visual", that's just stupid.
One of the hairiest stories I ever heard was that of an overseas 737 operator conducting the Port Vila, Vanuatu, VOR LOC DME Rwy 11 instrument approach. The final approach course down the localiser is 080 degrees. Airport elevation 70 feet. Weather was marginal with rain and low cloud at the minima.

Those familiar with Port Vila will recall the final approach is offset by nearly 30 degrees to the runway requiring a turn to the right of 30 degrees when visual in order to line up to land on Runway 11 (106 degrees M). If not visual at the MDA of 820 (769') a curved missed approach to heading 180 is required.

The captain was PF. With landing flap selected the aircraft was stable on the localiser approaching the minima. At the minima of 820 feet and still in low cloud the aircraft was not visual and the PM called Go-around. The captain hesitated as if unable to make up his mind then applied GA thrust and started to climb. He forgot to call for Flap 15 and the PM called the omission and then selected Flap 15.

The aircraft had started to climb when suddenly the runway became visual. To the astonishment of the PM the captain announced "landing" and pushed the nose down. There were no other calls from the captain. The PM hurriedly selected landing Flap 40, and hoped for the best as things were beyond his immediate control. The flaps had not reached 40 when the aircraft landed hard well into the runway. With heavy braking and max reverse thrust it stopped before the end.
The PF, a senior check captain, gave no explanation for his change of mind.

The reason for telling this story is to highlight the risks of making a snap decision when after a go-around at a landing minima caused by poor visibility, a change of mind to revert to a landing could prove potentially fatal even if runway length is not an issue. Let alone pressing on with an unstable approach.

Last edited by Centaurus; 15th Sep 2017 at 06:02.
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