How common are 'go arounds'?
Discussion
Had my only ever one was on a easyJet flight into Liverpool not long ago.
No apparent or given reason, and it was all very gentle - more of a fly past really! My Dad (who used to be an airport fireman) said they sometimes do that if there's a problem with the wheels locking
but there was no fire crew on scene when we did land.
We were sitting facing one the cabin crew and she was going mad as it messes up their turn-around time.
No apparent or given reason, and it was all very gentle - more of a fly past really! My Dad (who used to be an airport fireman) said they sometimes do that if there's a problem with the wheels locking
but there was no fire crew on scene when we did land.We were sitting facing one the cabin crew and she was going mad as it messes up their turn-around time.
JRM said:
Off topic I know, but the most worring one I had was an aborted take-off, all engines fired up, roared off down the runway in the 747, then power cut and huge braking, and going around the taxi field again.
Something about one of the engines not responding correctly, so very glad they stopped, what was worrying was an hour later them sayin it was all fine and off you go it did turn out fine though obviously
Jeesh ! That would have me scratching at the window to get out.Something about one of the engines not responding correctly, so very glad they stopped, what was worrying was an hour later them sayin it was all fine and off you go
it did turn out fine though obviouslyTo answer the original question, they are pretty rare. I had one about a month ago because an aircraft didn't clear the runway quickly enough. It was mostly because the aircraft I fly has one of the highest approach speeds and the airplane in front has one of the slowest, making for tricky conditions. That's the only one I've had in the past year of flying. The year prior I had three, two for weather and one because we were way too high on approach because of ATC (sorry controllers 
).
As for rejected take-offs, I've had three. Once on the ATR because we hit two flocks of birds on take-off and had about 10 individual bird strikes, including one bird in the left engine and two rejects on the CRJ for instrumentation problems.
I've never had one as a passenger though. In Atlanta if you watch long enough you'll see one (go-around), I'd guess they have 2-3 a day but I'm not sure.
). As for rejected take-offs, I've had three. Once on the ATR because we hit two flocks of birds on take-off and had about 10 individual bird strikes, including one bird in the left engine and two rejects on the CRJ for instrumentation problems.
I've never had one as a passenger though. In Atlanta if you watch long enough you'll see one (go-around), I'd guess they have 2-3 a day but I'm not sure.
Edited by CelicaGT on Saturday 27th February 21:58
The only one I ever experienced was as a passenger landing at Bristol, when the weather was particularly nasty.
In sight of the land the engines suddenly spooled up and back we went. The Pilot made an announcement that the Airport ILS system had broken, so the Autoland took us back up. We then went over Bath and apparently the airport turned on the ILS equipment at the other end of the runway so we landed the wrong way up.
Wind was extreme, getting off the plane you had to lean into it to get down the stairs...
In sight of the land the engines suddenly spooled up and back we went. The Pilot made an announcement that the Airport ILS system had broken, so the Autoland took us back up. We then went over Bath and apparently the airport turned on the ILS equipment at the other end of the runway so we landed the wrong way up.
Wind was extreme, getting off the plane you had to lean into it to get down the stairs...
Streetrod said:
I’ve have had a couple of these. The first big one was on a recent holiday to Egypt. It was a sunny day, great visibility and on final approach. We fly in over the desert and are about the cross the end of the runway about 15 seconds from landing. All of a sudden the pilot slams the throttles open and peals away to the left, lots of screams, from the passengers, I look out the window to see another 737 taxiing down the runway 
A few moments later to the pilot comes on to apologise for the go around, his excuse was a obstruction on the runway!!!!! How the hell does that happen? I complained to the airline about the incident, they promised to investigate but I heard nothing.
May the Saint's preserve us. A few moments later to the pilot comes on to apologise for the go around, his excuse was a obstruction on the runway!!!!! How the hell does that happen? I complained to the airline about the incident, they promised to investigate but I heard nothing.What on earth do you think you accomplished by filing a complaint about a go around? Airlines and pilots couldn't give two hoots for the opinions of a passenger when it comes to things like this.
You are often give a clearance to "land after" and usually the departing traffic gets out of the way in time, if not, then the landing aircraft performs a missed approach. No big issue at all, the throttles get opened and we follow the procedure and come around for another go.
No investigation needed as there was no incident to investigate. A go around isn't an emergency, just a mild annoyance.
Non pilot here 
Landing with thick fog/cloud obscuring CDG airport and the only thing I could see was a church spire. Brilliant sunshine but the ground was carpeted in white.
Just as the plane appeared to touch the cloud, it was full throttle and up we went and then around for another approach.
We did land but my only worry was that the visible church spire was in a completely different position.
The French pilot did apologise and said that there was "Traffic" so made me think that he had tried to land on the autoroute the first time around.
I know it was probably a different runway.
Landing with thick fog/cloud obscuring CDG airport and the only thing I could see was a church spire. Brilliant sunshine but the ground was carpeted in white.
Just as the plane appeared to touch the cloud, it was full throttle and up we went and then around for another approach.
We did land but my only worry was that the visible church spire was in a completely different position.
The French pilot did apologise and said that there was "Traffic" so made me think that he had tried to land on the autoroute the first time around.
I know it was probably a different runway.
croyde said:
Non pilot here
Landing with thick fog/cloud obscuring CDG airport and the only thing I could see was a church spire. Brilliant sunshine but the ground was carpeted in white.
Just as the plane appeared to touch the cloud, it was full throttle and up we went and then around for another approach.
We did land but my only worry was that the visible church spire was in a completely different position.
The French pilot did apologise and said that there was "Traffic" so made me think that he had tried to land on the autoroute the first time around.
I know it was probably a different runway.
The obvious answer is that he was French and therefore incompetent. HTH.Landing with thick fog/cloud obscuring CDG airport and the only thing I could see was a church spire. Brilliant sunshine but the ground was carpeted in white.
Just as the plane appeared to touch the cloud, it was full throttle and up we went and then around for another approach.
We did land but my only worry was that the visible church spire was in a completely different position.
The French pilot did apologise and said that there was "Traffic" so made me think that he had tried to land on the autoroute the first time around.
I know it was probably a different runway.
IforB said:
Streetrod said:
I’ve have had a couple of these. The first big one was on a recent holiday to Egypt. It was a sunny day, great visibility and on final approach. We fly in over the desert and are about the cross the end of the runway about 15 seconds from landing. All of a sudden the pilot slams the throttles open and peals away to the left, lots of screams, from the passengers, I look out the window to see another 737 taxiing down the runway A few moments later to the pilot comes on to apologise for the go around, his excuse was a obstruction on the runway!!!!! How the hell does that happen? I complained to the airline about the incident, they promised to investigate but I heard nothing.
May the Saint's preserve us. A few moments later to the pilot comes on to apologise for the go around, his excuse was a obstruction on the runway!!!!! How the hell does that happen? I complained to the airline about the incident, they promised to investigate but I heard nothing.What on earth do you think you accomplished by filing a complaint about a go around? Airlines and pilots couldn't give two hoots for the opinions of a passenger when it comes to things like this.
You are often give a clearance to "land after" and usually the departing traffic gets out of the way in time, if not, then the landing aircraft performs a missed approach. No big issue at all, the throttles get opened and we follow the procedure and come around for another go.
No investigation needed as there was no incident to investigate. A go around isn't an emergency, just a mild annoyance.
Streetrod said:
IforB said:
Streetrod said:
I’ve have had a couple of these. The first big one was on a recent holiday to Egypt. It was a sunny day, great visibility and on final approach. We fly in over the desert and are about the cross the end of the runway about 15 seconds from landing. All of a sudden the pilot slams the throttles open and peals away to the left, lots of screams, from the passengers, I look out the window to see another 737 taxiing down the runway A few moments later to the pilot comes on to apologise for the go around, his excuse was a obstruction on the runway!!!!! How the hell does that happen? I complained to the airline about the incident, they promised to investigate but I heard nothing.
May the Saint's preserve us. A few moments later to the pilot comes on to apologise for the go around, his excuse was a obstruction on the runway!!!!! How the hell does that happen? I complained to the airline about the incident, they promised to investigate but I heard nothing.What on earth do you think you accomplished by filing a complaint about a go around? Airlines and pilots couldn't give two hoots for the opinions of a passenger when it comes to things like this.
You are often give a clearance to "land after" and usually the departing traffic gets out of the way in time, if not, then the landing aircraft performs a missed approach. No big issue at all, the throttles get opened and we follow the procedure and come around for another go.
No investigation needed as there was no incident to investigate. A go around isn't an emergency, just a mild annoyance.
If there was something that needed reporting or investigating, then it would have been done. Flying is as safe as it is because we have rigorous safety systems and reporting mechanisms to ensure that if an incident occurs, then the lessons from it are learned and passed on to all of us.
A passenger sending in this sort of report is absolutely meaningless, you have no idea what occured or why.
Whilst there are the odd times where pax have picked up on potential problems, they are exceedingly rare.
Streetrod said:
IforB said:
Streetrod said:
I’ve have had a couple of these. The first big one was on a recent holiday to Egypt. It was a sunny day, great visibility and on final approach. We fly in over the desert and are about the cross the end of the runway about 15 seconds from landing. All of a sudden the pilot slams the throttles open and peals away to the left, lots of screams, from the passengers, I look out the window to see another 737 taxiing down the runway A few moments later to the pilot comes on to apologise for the go around, his excuse was a obstruction on the runway!!!!! How the hell does that happen? I complained to the airline about the incident, they promised to investigate but I heard nothing.
May the Saint's preserve us. A few moments later to the pilot comes on to apologise for the go around, his excuse was a obstruction on the runway!!!!! How the hell does that happen? I complained to the airline about the incident, they promised to investigate but I heard nothing.What on earth do you think you accomplished by filing a complaint about a go around? Airlines and pilots couldn't give two hoots for the opinions of a passenger when it comes to things like this.
You are often give a clearance to "land after" and usually the departing traffic gets out of the way in time, if not, then the landing aircraft performs a missed approach. No big issue at all, the throttles get opened and we follow the procedure and come around for another go.
No investigation needed as there was no incident to investigate. A go around isn't an emergency, just a mild annoyance.
But the Pilot didn't put you, or your family in a dangerous situation. He was doing his job, and doing it well by the sounds of it. Doing a Missed is perfectly normal. He might just have been waiting until the last second to see if the traffic infront could get out the way. Did everyone really scream?
to be fair some countrys ATCOs don't have the highest reputations- UK seems to have a very good rep with good reason judging by the professionalism of air traffic controllers here.
wouldn't surprise me if an Egypt Tower didn't quite meet the standards of Gatwick tower!
crossing the threshold before going around is hardly ideal though-you'd hope to be at least half a mile away wouldn't you.
wouldn't surprise me if an Egypt Tower didn't quite meet the standards of Gatwick tower!
crossing the threshold before going around is hardly ideal though-you'd hope to be at least half a mile away wouldn't you.
pugwash4x4 said:
to be fair some countrys ATCOs don't have the highest reputations- UK seems to have a very good rep with good reason judging by the professionalism of air traffic controllers here.
wouldn't surprise me if an Egypt Tower didn't quite meet the standards of Gatwick tower!
crossing the threshold before going around is hardly ideal though-you'd hope to be at least half a mile away wouldn't you.
I dunno. If it's LVO, then I'd be expecting to go around an awful lot closer.wouldn't surprise me if an Egypt Tower didn't quite meet the standards of Gatwick tower!
crossing the threshold before going around is hardly ideal though-you'd hope to be at least half a mile away wouldn't you.
Of course the decision should be made earlier rather than later, that's just sensible, however, there is likely to be a massive difference between when the GA was initiated and when the previous poster actually noticed it. The actual distance between the aircraft is likely to have been far greater than he thought.
Only had one G/A in over 100 flights I've taken in 6 years and that was back in 2005 on approach to Miami, the interesting part was the pilot came over the PA and all the cabin heard was fu then the aircraft powered up and we went in to hold, he then told us another aircraft had entered the runway with out permission!
The only other interesting flights I've had were taking off from Dulles in an A343 and the pilot had to up the throttle for the plane to get off the ground, think they put the incorrect takeoff thrust in to the computer!
And on approach to LHR the pilot said we were going to do an autoland and had to tell the passengers, why i don't know? but it was thick fog and i could just see the inboard engine of the A346 but i have to say it was the best landing I've ever experienced.
All in all i feel very safe on all the flights I've taken.
The only other interesting flights I've had were taking off from Dulles in an A343 and the pilot had to up the throttle for the plane to get off the ground, think they put the incorrect takeoff thrust in to the computer!
And on approach to LHR the pilot said we were going to do an autoland and had to tell the passengers, why i don't know? but it was thick fog and i could just see the inboard engine of the A346 but i have to say it was the best landing I've ever experienced.
All in all i feel very safe on all the flights I've taken.
pakistani seem to have more than their share at Manchester, although they do operate some big birds.
Go arounds at Madeira are quite common. The wind rolls of the hills directly to the right of the airfield and lots of aircraft seem to land at odd angles. It is a bit disconcerting to feel full throttle and see the ground disappearing through the windows.
Go arounds at Madeira are quite common. The wind rolls of the hills directly to the right of the airfield and lots of aircraft seem to land at odd angles. It is a bit disconcerting to feel full throttle and see the ground disappearing through the windows.
JRM said:
Off topic I know, but the most worring one I had was an aborted take-off, all engines fired up, roared off down the runway in the 747, then power cut and huge braking, and going around the taxi field again.
Something about one of the engines not responding correctly, so very glad they stopped, what was worrying was an hour later them sayin it was all fine and off you go it did turn out fine though obviously
Similar for me - taking off in a DC9, zooming down the runway, massive BANG and came to a stop. Turned out one of the door emergency slides had gone off inside the cabin! Something about one of the engines not responding correctly, so very glad they stopped, what was worrying was an hour later them sayin it was all fine and off you go
it did turn out fine though obviouslyGassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff