✈️ Aviation Brief — Issue #37
Weekly insights for student pilots and the instructors who train them.
THIS WEEK'S TOPIC
PA.IV.I — Go-Around/Rejected Landing (Private Pilot ACS)
### 1. ACS STANDARDS SUMMARY
For Private Pilot Airplane (PA.IV.I: Go-Around/Rejected Landing), the FAA Airman Certification Standards (ACS) require you to demonstrate instructional knowledge, risk management, and skills by performing a smooth transition from a stabilized approach to a go-around. Key skills include: applying full power without excessive delay; adjusting pitch for the best rate-of-climb speed (Vy); retracting flaps incrementally as performance allows (typically in stages to avoid stall); configuring the aircraft per the POH (e.g., carb heat off, mixture rich); climbing to pattern altitude while maintaining directional control; and re-entering the traffic pattern at a safe altitude and position. The examiner expects you to recognize when a go-around is necessary (e.g., unstable approach, traffic conflict, or runway issues) and manage risks like high density altitude effects on climb performance or wake turbulence.
### 2. THREE COMMON STUDENT MISTAKES
- **Delayed or partial power application**: Students often hesitate to shove the throttle full forward immediately, or they add only partial power, leading to a mushy climb or settling back toward the runway—examiners ding this hard as it's a critical safety killer.
- **Rushing flap retraction**: Retracting all flaps at once right after power-up causes a sudden sink or stall risk; conversely, forgetting to retract them at all leaves you dragging in a high-drag config during the climb.
- **Losing directional control on climbout**: Without vigilant rudder input, especially in a crosswind, the aircraft drifts sideways or weathervanes into the wind, resulting in an off-heading climb that forces corrections later.
### 3. CFI PRO TIP
Practice "go-arounds from 50 feet" during every landing lesson—initiate them unannounced just above runway height to build the instant-response muscle memory. Verbalize your flow out loud each time ("Power full, pitch up, flaps 10, positive rate, gear up if applicable") to ingrain the checklist and make it automatic under stress; students who do this nail checkrides every time.
### 4. SAFETY SPOTLIGHT
NTSB data shows that failed or unstable approaches account for over 50% of runway overrun accidents, with many preventable by a timely go-around— a 2022 FAA study of 200+ incidents found that pilots who executed go-arounds had zero overrun events, versus 70% failure rate for those pressing on. ASRS reports highlight "get-there-itis" as a common trap, where pilots ignore gusty winds or misjudged landings, turning a minor issue into a prop strike or excursion.
### 5. DID YOU KNOW
The FAA's AIM (Section 4-3-11) explicitly encourages liberal use of go-arounds, stating it's often the safest option—even on short final—and there's no regulatory penalty for doing one. In fact, airline data from the Flight Safety Foundation shows go-arounds reduce approach-and-landing accident risk by up to 3x compared to continuing unstable landings.
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