The leading idea for the captain was to proceed with a 'smooth' go around by slowly applying thrust. By doing so he inadvertently stopped to the second detent he met which is MCT but does not trigger the all go around logic.
Following an earlier event of dubious go around maneuver, Air France had decided :
- To practice a go around exercise on all engines with low level capture.
- To modify how teaching go around maneuvers to ensure that the reading of FMA in the initial phase of the procedure does not occur at the expense of the control of pitch and thrust, the monitoring of the primary parameters remains a priority in all circumstances.
Following the incident of September 2009, the company has reminded all pilots :
- The thrust levers must be forwarded to the TOGA mechanical stop.
- Any alteration of the procedure in order to obtain a smoother go around must be prohibited.
- Pitch control is paramount.
- AP should be engaged only after the trajectory has been stabilized and the FMA is coherent.
- A return to basic principles of flight and appropriate training are necessary.