How many go arounds?

[truck71]

I was chatting with a German couple whilst in Madeira earlier in the week, they said their plane had needed four attempts to land at Funchal due to wind. How often does that happen?

[scotlandtim]

I once took 6 attempts to land on Foula when i was working in Shetland. Sheep keep running out in front of the plane (Britten Islander) Eventually landed close behind the firetruck which went down the field ahead of me to scare the sheep off!!

[rs4al]

Industry standard is two attempts, if after the second attempt the reason for the go-around has gone ie. environmental or runway blockage has gone, you can make a third attempt but if not its divert time.

[Eric Mc]

This accident brought this issue to the fore 50 years ago -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nwfOrwgOC0

[Testaburger]

It generally depends on your fuel state. Ordinarily, you probably won't have the fuel to make four approaches while maintaining your diversion fuel and reserves. However, if you know it's going to be rubbish when you arrive, you may add fuel for that very reason. Some would question the wisdom in flogging in to the same conditions four times, but that's a slightly different discussion.

[jonnyb]

For us it's 2 attempts and then divert, unless there is a significant improvement in the weather.

The risks go up exponentially with every attempt to land.

One of our guys tried to argue it was 2 attempts to the same runway, i.e. You could make 2 attempts to runway 33, and then 2 attempts to 15. He's no longer with us.

[Mansells Tash]

jonnyb said:

One of our guys tried to argue it was 2 attempts to the same runway, i.e. You could make 2 attempts to runway 33, and then 2 attempts to 15. He's no longer with us.

You killed him over that!?

[truck71]

jonnyb said:

For us it's 2 attempts and then divert, unless there is a significant improvement in the weather.

The risks go up exponentially with every attempt to land.

One of our guys tried to argue it was 2 attempts to the same runway, i.e. You could make 2 attempts to runway 33, and then 2 attempts to 15. He's no longer with us.

What causes the risk to increase with each attempt?
Btw the airline was a Thomas Cook liveried jet flying from Brussels to Lanzarote stopping at Madeira on the way back.

[jonnyb]

Mansells Tash said:

jonnyb said:

One of our guys tried to argue it was 2 attempts to the same runway, i.e. You could make 2 attempts to runway 33, and then 2 attempts to 15. He's no longer with us.

You killed him over that!?

Harsh but fair

[rs4al]

truck71 said:

What causes the risk to increase with each attempt?
Btw the airline was a Thomas Cook liveried jet flying from Brussels to Lanzarote stopping at Madeira on the way back.

Complacency and must land at all costs gene kicks in, rumours have it that some Belgian pilots have been spotted wearing spurs.

[Testaburger]

rs4al said:

Complacency and must land at all costs gene kicks in, rumours have it that some Belgian pilots have been spotted wearing spurs.

Interesting; we have no such SOP. In the absence of such, common sense plays a role. I've made a third attempt before. We had tankered fuel, so no issue there, then a go-around due to runway incursion, then as second one because the Vietnam Airlines jet in front got lost on the runway.

When you say max to approaches unless the weather markedly improves - is there a definition of improvement for you, or is that where you can apply a bit of your own decision making.

Re. That guy getting axed for making a third approach - indeed, harsh but fair. SOPs are SOPs. You can't go deciding which ones suit you on the day.