Go-around... how frequently does this happen?
Dec 12, 2018, 6:55 am
#17
Join Date: Mar 2018
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From a relatively low number of total flights (probably average less than 2 a year) I've experienced 2 go-arounds. One was Aer Lingus into Dublin with no reason stated (presume aircraft on runway) the other was far more "entertaining"....Coming back from GIB to LGW some inebriated guy would not sit down despite the repeated requests from cabin crew and rather stern PA from the captain advising that we would be going around if he did not sit down. Someone stood up to try and 'persuade' him to take his seat just as the captain throttled up so they both ended up in a heap at the back of the plane. Waiting for the old bill to board and take him away was not what I wanted at 10PM with a 2.5 hour drive home still to come!
Dec 12, 2018, 7:05 am
#18
Join Date: Mar 2017
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The question perhaps is not how often per passenger but how often per pilot... some stats suggest it's about one a year for a short-haul pilot and perhaps one every four years for long-haul. Although they are practiced in the simulator it's tricky to retain competence in something that is done so infrequently and is quite dynamic. As such go-arounds are not 'risk-free' and can be poorly executed. However, not going around is much worse so on balance a go-around is a good thing and if it didn't annoy the passengers we should probably do more of them.
Dec 12, 2018, 7:07 am
#19
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A few years ago we were on final approach to SFO (with BA). Landing gear was down, runway fast approaching. All of a sudden we pulled up and started to circle. Pilot announced that he had been advised by ATC that the runway was clear, but he could see a plane taxiing.
Dec 12, 2018, 7:09 am
#20
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Shame it was recorded on a potato but you get the idea:
Same here, I think I've had 6 that I can recall off the top of my head, so maybe more, (and I've not flown 6000 flights), including several at LHR and LGW, two airports that probably experience more than their average share of them.
Same here, I think I've had 6 that I can recall off the top of my head, so maybe more, (and I've not flown 6000 flights), including several at LHR and LGW, two airports that probably experience more than their average share of them.
Last edited by Fraser; Dec 12, 2018 at 8:29 am
Dec 12, 2018, 7:14 am
#22
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I did once watch an entirely predictable go-around from the T4 lounge when a cargo MD-11 seemed rather closer than usual to the 737 ahead of it. It was a perfect day, so the MD-11 crew just carried right on down to (presumably) their decision height (?50 feet), and then off they went around the circuit.
Dec 12, 2018, 7:19 am
#23
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Dec 12, 2018, 7:20 am
#24
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Dec 12, 2018, 7:25 am
#26
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Dec 12, 2018, 7:27 am
#28
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I had 3 go-arounds on the same flight LAX-CLT last autumn. CLT had snow and poor visibility as well as strong winds variable in direction. The bad thing was that the pilot made no announcement until on the 4th approach and after the crew called him to say something after being approached by passengers. Before that I think I had only 2 previously, 1 in HAM, and 1 in DUB, both which are notorious for crosswinds.
Dec 12, 2018, 7:28 am
#30
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