Aerodrome & Circuit
Go Around When in Doubt
Gusty conditions are a reminder to go around whenever the approach isn't right – power, pitch, clean up, then radio once safely climbing.
1 min readKapiti Aero Club safety team
Bumpy, gusty conditions are a good prompt to refresh both the importance and the procedure of a go-around.
A go-around may be necessary for many reasons. You may have misjudged something – simple pilot error – or it could be the result of someone or something else. Whatever the reason, if you're not happy at any time during the approach, don't hesitate to go around. If you're ever unsure, it's always safer to power up and try again.
Keep it simple during a go-around – don't try to do multiple things at once. Remember the order:
- Power up
- Pitch up
- Clean up
- Radio call – once the aircraft is climbing away and everything is in order.
Always: Aviate, Navigate, Communicate.