NZ436 - 12th February
 

A very late go around today with us landing from the east, having cleared the creek before the runway and then climbing out rather steeply before a short scenic flight over Auckland followed by a few steep turns to do a visual approach with a normal landing.

I'm not quite sure why we did a go around, but looking at Flightaware the track log shows that at one point we were only 15 metres above sea level and that was with a positive rate of climb, so we'll have got even lower.

Pilot spied a pothole on the runway...

had to wait while the bitumen was laid down then covered by chipseal

:D

Looking at the flight on FR24, the initial approach involved quite a tight left turn to position on a short final position for RWY 23 at around 450’. Such an approach leaves little margin for ensuring the aircraft is setup properly for landing as there are many changing variables.

It is possible that the aircraft was not established in a stable configuration, or the landing checklist was incomplete, and so the aircrew elected to overshoot and re-circuit for a more normal approach.

It is also quite possible that ATC directed the overshoot for a number of reasons such as an aircraft ahead being slow to exit the runway etc.

Listening to the communications between the tower controller and the aircraft might give more insight.

Similar scenario this afternoon in Wellington. NZ7828 from BHE took a visual approach over the city cutting across Hataitai for an approach on 16 - this is an approach typically only used by Sounds Air in their Caravans. Had an unstable approach so then ended up going around and taking a harbour circuit before trying again!