Go-around LFMT yesterday (20100813)

[Jolly Tall]

Excuse me if this is the wrong forum - feel free to move it. Yesterday (13th August) RyanAir FR2472 Leeds/Bradford-Montpellier (LFMT) - approach a little bumpy but nothing too unusual. Low level go-around followed by repeat (successful) approach on same r/w. Approach direction commented on by regulars was very unusual, and go-around over the sea so must have been 13L. Reason given for go-around was wind direction change from mountains. Looking at IAC's for LFMT, there's no ILS for 13, and the VOR/DME chart shows a 6.5% descent. Is that really suitable for a 737-800? It didn't feel like an unusually steep approach to me, though I'm not sure how different it should feel.

METARS around that time of day (around 1300Z):
20100813 METAR LFMT 131100Z 15006KT 120V200 CAVOK 28/07 Q1014 NOSIG=
20100813 METAR LFMT 131200Z 17011KT CAVOK 27/11 Q1013 NOSIG=
20100813 METAR LFMT 131300Z 18009KT CAVOK 27/09 Q1013 NOSIG=
20100813 METAR LFMT 131600Z 17008KT CAVOK 28/09 Q1012 NOSIG=

seems nothing unusual to me, no reports of gusts, and nothing to suggest the mildly bumpy approach we experienced. Anyone know what happened or care to speculate what might have happened - not properly aligned at minimums? Just curious as to the reason - 1st go-around I've experienced in CAVOK conditions - as a passenger that is, done 'em plenty of times myself

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

I dare you to post that on the aircrew forum!!!!!

[BrATCO]

Once, I had to go around there because of a flock of pink floyds...
But that was on final for RWY 31L (VFR), above the lakes located between the sea and the runway.

[bigjames]

i have experienced CAVOK goaround due faulty windshear warning. CYUL on BA 747 classic, sometime in oct 99. same warning on second approach but ignored after multiple pireps (and common sense!) indicated no windshear. happens...

[Jolly Tall]

I dare you to post that on the aircrew forum!!!!!

But which one - there doesn't seem to be an 'aircrew' forum, just airline specific forums (no RyanAir sadly), and a cabin crew forum. Did you mean that one? If so why - do they bite?

[reportyourlevel]

Be careful with your units: 6.5% sounds steep but it's only about 3.5 degrees which is pretty normal really. As for asking about go-arounds, you're lukcy no one has bitten you yet. Basically they are normal (non)events and there could be a million and one reasons, so just sit back and enjoy the ride.

[man friday]

Don't tell O'leary or he'll charge you extra!

On a serious note a katabatic wind could have triggered a windshear warning.

[TopBunk]

Looking at IAC's for LFMT, there's no ILS for 13, and the VOR/DME chart shows a 6.5% descent. Is that really suitable for a 737-800?

As said, it is published as a 3.7degree profile, which will translate into about 900fpm descent rate. From recollection, this is due to terrain to the northwest of the airport.

I have flown the approach in a 737, and it is no issue if you are established in the correct configuration at the correct point. However, if you are trying to cut it tight it might be that you end up hot and high, in which case a go-around is the prudent choice.

Now, I am not speculating what happened here, but I would commend any airline for discontinuing the approach if the stabilised approach criteria were not met.

[Jolly Tall]

Oh my God. Was anyone hurt?

Yeah me - I banged my nose on the window watching the airport getting smaller underneath.

I know it was all no big deal, and I did mention at the top it was just a curiosity as to the reason why this everyday occurence happened on this particular occasion. Thanks all for the interesting (and amusing) responses.