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Chapter 11 — Approaches and Landings
Go-Arounds (Rejected Landings)
Whenever landing conditions are not satisfactory, a
go-around is warranted. There are many factors that
can contribute to unsatisfactory landing conditions.
Situations such as air traffic control requirements, unexpected
appearance of hazards on the runway, overtaking
another powered parachute, wind shear, wake
turbulence, mechanical failure and/or an unstabilized
approach are all examples of reasons to discontinue
a landing approach and make another approach under
more favorable conditions. The assumption that
an aborted landing is invariably the consequence of
a poor approach, which in turn is due to insufficient
experience or skill, is a fallacy. The go-around is not
strictly an emergency procedure. It is a normal maneuver
that may at times be used for normal situations.
It does not need to be an emergency to do a
go-around. Like any other normal maneuver, the goaround
must be practiced and perfected. The flight
instructor should emphasize early on, and the student
pilot should understand, that the go-around maneuver
is an alternative to any approach and/or landing.
Although the need to discontinue a landing may arise
at any point in the landing process, the most critical
go-around will be one started when very close to the
ground. Therefore, the earlier a condition that warrants a go-around is recognized, the safer the go-around/
rejected landing will be. The go-around maneuver is not
inherently dangerous in itself. It becomes dangerous
only when delayed unduly or executed improperly.
Delay in initiating the go-around normally stems from
two sources:
(1) landing expectancy, or set—the anticipatory
belief that conditions are not as threatening
as they are and that the approach will surely be terminated
with a safe landing, and
(2) pride—the mistaken
belief that the act of going around is an admission of
failure—failure to execute the approach properly. The
improper execution of the go-around maneuver stems
from a lack of familiarity with the three cardinal principles
of the procedure: power, power, and power.
Power is your first concern. The instant you decide to
go around, full power must be applied smoothly and
without hesitation, and held until the powered parachute
climbs back to pattern altitude. Applying only
partial power in a go-around is never appropriate. You
must be aware of the degree of inertia that must be
overcome, before a powered parachute that is settling
towards the ground can become capable of turning
safely or climbing. The application of power should
be smooth as well as positive. Abrupt movements of
the throttle in some powered parachutes will cause the
engine to falter.
Common errors in the performance of go-arounds (rejected
landings) are:
• Failure to recognize a condition that warrants a
rejected landing.
• Indecision.
• Delay in initiating a go-around.
• Failure to apply maximum allowable power in a
timely manner.
• Abrupt power application.
• Failure to adequately compensate for torque/
P-factor.
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