Go-arounds- how common?
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Go-arounds- how common?
Forgive a perhaps naive question: having flown lot as SLF over the years, (mostly around Europe, but sometimes further afield) I have never , until last night, experienced a 'go around' on landing. How frequent is this experience? Last night, arriving at Gatwick on an Emirates A380-800 in very windy and bumpy conditions, we went around from just short of the runway end. The flight crew managed to get in on the second attempt, but the landing was so hard that a number of panels in the cabin fell down. Probably all in a nights work for them, but it got my heart beating a bit faster.
Forgive a perhaps naive question: having flown lot as SLF over the years, (mostly around Europe, but sometimes further afield) I have never , until last night, experienced a 'go around' on landing. How frequent is this experience? Last night, arriving at Gatwick on an Emirates A380-800 in very windy and bumpy conditions, we went around from just short of the runway end. The flight crew managed to get in on the second attempt, but the landing was so hard that a number of panels in the cabin fell down. Probably all in a nights work for them, but it got my heart beating a bit faster.
Forgive a perhaps naive question: having flown lot as SLF over the years, (mostly around Europe, but sometimes further afield) I have never , until last night, experienced a 'go around' on landing. How frequent is this experience? Last night, arriving at Gatwick on an Emirates A380-800 in very windy and bumpy conditions, we went around from just short of the runway end. The flight crew managed to get in on the second attempt, but the landing was so hard that a number of panels in the cabin fell down. Probably all in a nights work for them, but it got my heart beating a bit faster.
Since I first flew in 1966 I have flown 1500 hours (560 flights) as a passenger and have only had 3 go-arounds. First was in a Herald into Teeside due fog, a Viscount into East Mids (never found out why) and a lightly loaded Monarch A320 trying to land at Luton in windy/gusty conditions.
Done quite a few on training flights, so it's the luck of the draw I guess!
Done quite a few on training flights, so it's the luck of the draw I guess!
Paxing All Over The World
In over 50 years as an enthusiastic Pax - I have never experienced one. Obviously I should have boarded any flight led by Chesty Morgan.
In 50 years of paxing, I had my first go around last year, going in to Darwin. We had to do a circuit while a RAAF flyover was happening (can't recall the occasion), and when we were cleared, the plane never seemed lined up properly. Pilot threw it away early and we lined up OK next time. It was a surprise to the SLF, but not not alarming at all.
Edit to add: As an aside, the successful landing was done with what must have been flaps max - I had never seen the flaps extended to that extent on a B738 before or since. Not sure what the purpose of that was, unless the pilot wanted to make sure we didn't have to go around again (fuel a bit low after the circuit and go around?).
Edit to add: As an aside, the successful landing was done with what must have been flaps max - I had never seen the flaps extended to that extent on a B738 before or since. Not sure what the purpose of that was, unless the pilot wanted to make sure we didn't have to go around again (fuel a bit low after the circuit and go around?).
Last edited by Recidivist; 17th Mar 2019 at 23:34.
So nothing remarkable, then. (though quite an uncomfortable novelty for me!)
As a part of aviation, they are a non-event. Push the power up, and you've simply converted the approach into that part of flight that happens just after take off. They are not dangerous, nor are they in any way reportable. Just remember just why a go around is being done; it always happens because the option to continue has expired and they are ALWAYS the safest choice.
They can feel a lot more 'uncomfortable' or violent than they really are as they happen after a period of low power, speed and nose attitude. The average newspapers' description of passengers talking about a go around always sounds like they were in an F18...yet exactly the same performance an hour earlier at take off gets no comment.....because it was expected!
There's generally more going on aft of the cabin door than in the cockpit.
Was in the LGW No 1 lounge last night (17th) when the Emirates A380 landed. Beautiful thing to watch. The previous evening obviously not so much based on your experience!
Only had one in over 200 sectors, going into FLR. Short runway, windy day. Annoying more than worrying as it was the end of a long day and I just wanted to go to bed!
Only had one in over 200 sectors, going into FLR. Short runway, windy day. Annoying more than worrying as it was the end of a long day and I just wanted to go to bed!
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Re the A380 'go around' on Saturday: we had been thrown around a lot in cloud on the approach, and as we broke into the clear I was watching the approach using the fin camera on my seat-back screen. Rather wish I hadn't, as you could see we were approaching the runway 'crabbing' at a considerable angle, while lurching up and down and side to side,, so a go-around wasn't really surprising. Got even rougher while circling to try again, and from the very firm 2nd landing it was obvious that the pilot wanted to make it stick this time.
Infrequent pax, I had a go-around coming into Stansted a few years ago at night. Nothing dramatic, nose up, power, away we went. Asked the cabin crew when we were getting off, but I assume the flight crew were having a laugh as they claimed they "saw a squirrel on the runway" (in the dark, some distance befire we'd reached the threshold).
Unless they meant the helicopter....
Unless they meant the helicopter....
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Paxboy
I am the same, though flying baby/boy/man since 1960 and no go around to date. I have had some heavy and sporty landings when a go around may have been prudent though , and even some dodgy take offs into thunderstorms (are you listening BOAC / Malaysian / Delta / Air France / Tarom / Iran Air ) and those were the really notable ones when the stewardess / stewards apologized after they had stopped throwing up / praying !! I think Chesty Morgan maybe with Jet 2 out of Manchester, in which case there maybe chance yet for me, though I have yet to go to Funchal, but I have heard of its reputation. No offence Chesty.
Cheers
Mr Mac
I am the same, though flying baby/boy/man since 1960 and no go around to date. I have had some heavy and sporty landings when a go around may have been prudent though , and even some dodgy take offs into thunderstorms (are you listening BOAC / Malaysian / Delta / Air France / Tarom / Iran Air ) and those were the really notable ones when the stewardess / stewards apologized after they had stopped throwing up / praying !! I think Chesty Morgan maybe with Jet 2 out of Manchester, in which case there maybe chance yet for me, though I have yet to go to Funchal, but I have heard of its reputation. No offence Chesty.
Cheers
Mr Mac
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I have been flying as SLF for 30 years. Only had one bad experience.
SYD->BKK->LHR->CDG... on arrival to LHR had three missed approaches then had to divert to alternate which was Schiphol. Waited on the tarmac for 3 hours (wasn't allowed to deplane). Then flew back across the channel to LHR. First approach was a go-around. Nailed the second.
Missed the connection to Paris. Delayed in LHR for another 5 hours, then got a seat on another flight to CDG. Flew across the channel but by this time, the weather had travelled across the channel also. Executed two missed approached into CDG. Was told from the flight deck that if the third was a go-around, we'd be on our way back to London. Fortunately, we landed on the third attempt. Total travel time from SYD to CDG, 42 hours. Total go-arounds, 6. This was in the very early 90's and later we found out it was a 1 in 10 year storm. Haven't had a single missed approach ever since.
SYD->BKK->LHR->CDG... on arrival to LHR had three missed approaches then had to divert to alternate which was Schiphol. Waited on the tarmac for 3 hours (wasn't allowed to deplane). Then flew back across the channel to LHR. First approach was a go-around. Nailed the second.
Missed the connection to Paris. Delayed in LHR for another 5 hours, then got a seat on another flight to CDG. Flew across the channel but by this time, the weather had travelled across the channel also. Executed two missed approached into CDG. Was told from the flight deck that if the third was a go-around, we'd be on our way back to London. Fortunately, we landed on the third attempt. Total travel time from SYD to CDG, 42 hours. Total go-arounds, 6. This was in the very early 90's and later we found out it was a 1 in 10 year storm. Haven't had a single missed approach ever since.
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That said, i used to have roughly one GA per year in the first 15 years of airline flying, None in the last 5 years. That break in trends might have been caused by a much higher focus on being stabilized and flying conservative approaches. Nearly had one the other way, quite heavy turbulences during approach, we had a few fun days of high winds, always a pleasure to fly that.
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Just the one, on approach to ACE, after what seemed a perfect approach and 4 prior sectors from the Philippines the pilot went around.....
only other problem was INTO Manchester, Airtours MD-83 bouncing all over until a nice firm landing.....
only other problem was INTO Manchester, Airtours MD-83 bouncing all over until a nice firm landing.....
As an SLF I have had three GAs. First was into LGW from MAN when the cabin wan't secure (the trolley wasn't away in time); the second was Jet2 into TLV (captain mentioned an unstable approach) and the third was when MAN closed for snow when we were about 20 seconds from landing and off we went to BHX.
The first two suprised me, the last one didn't. I flew in from Larnaca and before taking off had already had a call from my secretary telling me I wouldn't be landing. Was surprised they even bothered to take off.
The first two suprised me, the last one didn't. I flew in from Larnaca and before taking off had already had a call from my secretary telling me I wouldn't be landing. Was surprised they even bothered to take off.
I’d probably do one about once a year, reasons vary from the aircraft ahead not vacating the runway in time to a wind sheer warning. Passengers will soon forget about a go around, they will never forget an accident that happened because the pilot should have aborted the landing but didn’t.