Spotter
<<If you can't make a safe go-around from an approach we NEED to know as soon as that becomes apparent>>
Depends on what you mean by "safe".
(Some of) the rules in Nigel's outfit:
1. Mayday = WILL land below Reserve
2. PAN = MAY land below Reserve.
3. < 2hrs out from dest, given certain criteria, can reduce Fuel such that you will land with Reserve or more...
4. Reserve = 30 mins going round in circles at 1500'
5. A "Go Around" will use much of that Reserve Fuel (full power and all that).
IMHO, a Go Around at a little above Reserve will REQUIRE a visual or TIGHT radar circuit to avoid running out of fuel.
The above means that, according to the rules, the first ATC will know of the problem is the Mayday call early in the Go Around. This is not implicitly dangerous (unlike, say a fire), it is just an urgent (very urgent!) call demanding immediate assistance and priorty.
Anitgua "pre-empted" the above by suggesting to ATC to reduce the probability of a Go Around - seems good idea to me.
If ATC do not like the above (I am not sure I do, but its the rules from BA and approved by the CAA) then please say so, and not just here - but where it counts!
NoD