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Flight OperationsIntelligence brief

Go-Around Decision and Execution

Treat the go-around as both a normal safety decision and a manoeuvre whose mode, thrust, configuration, path, and workload must be monitored.

Knowledge connections
6FDM parameters
2Occurrence cases
86Evidence records
4Related topics
01 / Overview

Definition

A discontinuation of an approach or landing followed by the applicable climb and missed-approach procedure.

Why it matters

A timely go-around restores margin, while a delayed or poorly monitored manoeuvre can introduce low-height energy and configuration hazards.

Research lens

Questions that turn reading into a defensible review

A strong review separates the event description, possible precursors, recorded evidence, approved criteria, and the final safety decision.

01 · Frame

What exactly is being examined?

A discontinuation of an approach or landing followed by the applicable climb and missed-approach procedure.

02 · Challenge

Which conditions could build the exposure?

Unstable approach, runway occupancy, or weather; Long landing or bounce.

03 · Corroborate

What evidence would strengthen the picture?

Initiation height and trigger Thrust/mode response, pitch, speed, gear, and flap sequence

04 · Bound

What must remain authoritative?

Current approved aircraft data, operator procedures, investigation findings, and the source document’s own scope control any operational conclusion.

What recorded data can support

Timeline, aircraft state, relationships, and recurrence

Radio altitude, Calibrated airspeed, Pitch attitude, Engine thrust, Autopilot status, Landing gear status can contribute to a synchronized event picture when their mappings, units, sampling, and flight-phase logic are validated.

What it cannot establish alone

Cause, intent, compliance, and technical disposition

An FDM alert or pattern is not by itself a causal finding, judgement of individual performance, regulatory conclusion, or aircraft maintenance and airworthiness determination.

What should corroborate it

Reports, approved criteria, context, and authoritative evidence

Combine the recorded picture with applicable procedures, crew and operational reports, weather or airport information, technical evidence, and the linked official publications and investigation sources.

02 / Visual model

Go-around verification loop

Every command is followed by verification of thrust, path, speed, and configuration.

01Decide and call
02Command thrust/mode
03Verify response
04Control flight path
05Retract configuration on schedule
06Navigate and communicate
03 / Operational context

Common causes and precursors

  1. →

    Unstable approach, runway occupancy, or weather

  2. →

    Long landing or bounce

  3. →

    Automation surprise and continuation bias

Operational risks

  1. R1

    Ground contact during low-energy go-around

  2. R2

    Loss of control or terrain conflict

  3. R3

    Mode, thrust, or configuration error

04 / Control strategy

Guidance themes

These are cross-source themes for orientation. Apply only the current, approved material for the aircraft and operation.

  • Verify thrust and flight-path response
  • Follow the aircraft-specific sequence
  • Brief routing, altitude, and roles before approach

Safety actions to consider

01

Train unexpected and low-height scenarios

02

Review policy compliance using contextual data

03

Remove punitive or commercial disincentives

05 / Flight data monitoring

Parameters that help explain the event

A useful event picture comes from signal relationships—not a single exceedance or a generic threshold.

ft

Radio altitude

Radio altitude provides the low-height reference needed to align approach gates, flare, touchdown, warning, and go-around events.

Open parameter guide ↗kt

Calibrated airspeed

Speed relative to the applicable target and configuration is central to energy management, approach stability, runway performance, and stall margin.

Open parameter guide ↗deg

Pitch attitude

Pitch shows rotation, flare, stall response, and potential tail-clearance context when combined with gear geometry and radio altitude.

Open parameter guide ↗% / ratio / aircraft-specific

Engine thrust

Thrust is a primary part of energy control and is essential for understanding approach corrections, takeoff, go-around, and engine malfunctions.

Open parameter guide ↗discrete / mode

Autopilot status

Mode transitions can explain changes in path, speed protection, pilot expectation, workload, and manual-control readiness.

Open parameter guide ↗discrete

Landing gear status

Gear and weight-on-wheels transitions anchor takeoff, touchdown, bounce, go-around, braking, spoiler, and reverser logic.

Open parameter guide ↗

Recommended monitoring questions

Q1

Initiation height and trigger

Q2

Thrust/mode response, pitch, speed, gear, and flap sequence

06 / Investigated occurrences

Cases that add context

ASIP provides a concise learning index. The investigation authority report remains the definitive source.

2013approach

Asiana Airlines Flight 214 — San Francisco

During a visual approach, the aircraft descended below the desired path and its airspeed decayed. The crew recognized the low-energy condition late, and the go-around was initiated too late to avoid impact with the seawall.

Boeing 777-200ER · San Francisco International Airport, California
2016go-around

Emirates Flight 521 — Dubai

After a long touchdown, the crew initiated a go-around. The aircraft's go-around switches were inhibited after touchdown, and the thrust levers remained at idle through most of the attempted go-around. They were advanced manually only after the aircraft had begun descending, and thrust increased too late to avoid runway impact.

Boeing 777-31H · Dubai International Airport
07 / Public-source reading

Editor-reviewed starting points

These records include a deeper ASIP editorial review. Continue to the full evidence index below for direct matches and broader manufacturer, regulator, and investigation reading.

01
U.S. National Transportation Safety Board · 2019-03

Safety Alert SA-077 — Stabilized Approaches Lead to Safe Landings

The NTSB alert highlights the need to establish and maintain a stabilized approach and to go around when an approach falls outside applicable criteria.

Official source
02
Flight Safety Foundation · 2017

Go-Around Decision-Making and Execution Project — Final Report

The Flight Safety Foundation project examines go-around policy compliance, decision biases, operational pressures, and the risks that also need to be managed during go-around execution.

Official source
Directly matched13

Title or indexed metadata explicitly matches this topic.

Broader reading73

Related collection material for adjacent systems, phases, and defenses.

Publishers represented5

Manufacturer, regulator, investigation, and safety-organization sources.

Coverage lens

Where the reading comes from

U.S. Federal Aviation Administration41
Airbus Safety First37
U.S. National Transportation Safety Board6
Flight Safety Foundation1
Boeing1

86 source records

Official links · no copied report files

86 source records match the current evidence filters.

U.S. Federal Aviation AdministrationDirect topic match

AC 91-79B — Aircraft Landing Performance and Runway Excursion Mitigation

This FAA circular brings together landing-performance planning, time-of-arrival assessment, RCAM information, and operational practices for reducing runway-excursion risk.

GuidanceAug 2023faa-ac-91-79b
Open official source
U.S. National Transportation Safety BoardDirect topic match

Safety Alert SA-077 — Stabilized Approaches Lead to Safe Landings

The NTSB alert highlights the need to establish and maintain a stabilized approach and to go around when an approach falls outside applicable criteria.

Safety alertMar 2019ntsb-sa-077
Open official source
Flight Safety FoundationDirect topic match

Go-Around Decision-Making and Execution Project — Final Report

The Flight Safety Foundation project examines go-around policy compliance, decision biases, operational pressures, and the risks that also need to be managed during go-around execution.

Toolkit2017fsf-go-around-project
Open official source
U.S. Federal Aviation AdministrationDirect topic match

SAFO 21006 — SAFO 21006, Boeing Model 757 and 767 Airplane Inadvertent Pilot Activation of Go-Around Mode

Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for aviation safety. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.

Safety Alert for Operators2021SAFO 21006
Open official source
U.S. Federal Aviation AdministrationDirect topic match

SAFO 15004 — SAFO 15004, Scenario-Based Go-Around Training

Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for human factors. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.

Safety Alert for Operators2015SAFO 15004
Open official source
U.S. Federal Aviation AdministrationDirect topic match

SAFO 10005 — Go-Around Callout and Immediate Response

Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for aviation safety. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.

Safety Alert for Operators2010SAFO 10005
Open official source
Airbus Safety FirstDirect topic match

Automatic NAV engagement at Go-around

Official Airbus Safety First material indexed for aviation safety. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.

Manufacturer articleDate on source
Open official source
Airbus Safety FirstDirect topic match

Flying a Go-Around Managing Energy

Official Airbus Safety First material indexed for aviation safety. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.

Manufacturer articleDate on source
Open official source
Airbus Safety FirstDirect topic match

Go-around handling

Official Airbus Safety First material indexed for ground operations. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.

Manufacturer articleDate on source
Open official source
Airbus Safety FirstDirect topic match

Introduction to the Soft Go-Around Function

Official Airbus Safety First material indexed for aviation safety. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.

Manufacturer articleDate on source
Open official source
Airbus Safety FirstDirect topic match

Non-Engagement of the Go-Around Modes in CLEAN Flaps Configuration

Official Airbus Safety First material indexed for maintenance. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.

Manufacturer articleDate on source
Open official source
Airbus Safety FirstDirect topic match

Preventing Tailstrike During Go-around Near the Ground

Official Airbus Safety First material indexed for ground operations. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.

Manufacturer articleDate on source
Open official source
Airbus Safety FirstDirect topic match

The Go-around Procedure

Official Airbus Safety First material indexed for aviation safety. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.

Manufacturer articleDate on source
Open official source
U.S. Federal Aviation AdministrationBroader collection match

SAFO 24006 — Potential for Jammed or Restricted Rudder on Boeing Model 737 Series Airplanes Equipped with Optional Collins Aerospace SVO-730 Rudder Rollout Guidance Actuators (RRGA)

Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for flight controls and automation. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.

Safety Alert for Operators2024SAFO 24006
Open official source
U.S. Federal Aviation AdministrationBroader collection match

SAFO 23001 — Potential Damage to Nose Landing Gear (NLG) by Improper Towing Procedures of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Regional Jet (MHIRJ) (formerly Bombardier) CL-600-2B19, CL-600-2C10 and CL-600-2D24 Airplanes

Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for approach and landing and ground operations. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.

Safety Alert for Operators2023SAFO 23001
Open official source
U.S. Federal Aviation AdministrationBroader collection match

SAFO 21004 — SAFO 21004, Air Traffic Control (ATC) Notification and Pilot Awareness When Conducting an Instrument Landing System (ILS) Autoland Procedure

Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for approach and landing and human factors. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.

Safety Alert for Operators2021SAFO 21004
Open official source
U.S. Federal Aviation AdministrationBroader collection match

SAFO 20014 — SAFO 20014, Boeing 737-8 and 737-9 Airplanes: Pilot Training and Flight Simulation Training Devices ( FSTD ) Updates

Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for human factors. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.

Safety Alert for Operators2020SAFO 20014
Open official source
U.S. Federal Aviation AdministrationBroader collection match

SAFO 18004 — SAFO 18004, Rotorcraft External Load Attaching Means and Quick Release Devices for Human External Cargo ( HEC )

Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for cabin and cargo and human factors. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.

Safety Alert for Operators2018SAFO 18004
Open official source
08 / Synthesis

Lessons learned

1Selecting a mode is not the same as achieving the response

2Go-around competence includes decision-making and execution

Continue exploring

Flight Operations

Unstable Approach

↗Flight Operations

Landing Performance

↗Weather

Windshear and Microburst

↗Aircraft Systems

Flight-Deck Automation

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