Stabilized Approaches and Go-Arounds Prof. H. Paul Shuch, Ph.D., CFII, DPE LSRM-A/GL/WSC/PPC, iRMT Heavy Chief Flight Instructor, Director of Maintenance AvSport of Lock Haven FAA Safety Team Lead Representative Piper Memorial Airport, Lock Haven PA

An FAA Safety Team WINGS Award Webinar

Brought to you by: Experimental Aircraft Association Aircraft Spruce and Specialty Company AvSport of Lock Haven Your FAA Safety Team

OVERVIEW: Statistics show that 47% of all General Aviation accidents, and 40% of fatalities, occur during the final approach and landing phases of flight. In this FAA Safety Team WINGS Award webinar, Prof. Shuch discusses the two best tools to avoid such accidents: stabilized approaches, and properly executed go-arounds. Tune in now, to learn how to prevent landing accidents.

OBJECTIVES: Upon successful completion of this webinar, you will: Fly approaches at a stabilized airspeed Maintain an appropriate rate of descent Gauge and control your touchdown point Ensure alignment with the runway centerline Know when to go around Know how to go around

Fatal Loss of Control Accidents

LOC Working Group findings Lack of single – pilot CRM skills Un stabilized approaches Inappropriate go-around procedures Flight after extended periods of not flying Insufficient transition training Over reliance on automation Flight after use of drugs Lack of Aeronautical Decision Making Skills

Quiz Time!

Stabilized approaches are essential to safe _____ flying advanced instrument student VFR all of the above

Stabilized approaches are essential to safe _____ flying advanced instrument student VFR all of the above

Instrument vs. VFR

Parameters: IFR Stabilized by 1000 feet above touchdown elevation. On correct flight path Small corrections to maintain On speed Recommended approach speed +10/-5 knots or MPH Descent On Glide Slope/VASI 500 fpm or less In landing configuration Landing checklist complete

Parameters: VFR Stabilized by 500 feet above touchdown elevation. On correct flight path Small corrections to maintain On speed Recommended approach speed +10/-5 knots or MPH Descent On Glide Slope/VASI 500 fpm or less In landing configuration Landing checklist complete

Parameters: VFR and IFR In addition to the parameters on the previous 2 slides think Go Around and make that part of your approach briefing. Go Around/Missed Approach Procedures. Frequency after declaring intentions, Destination? VOR, NDP, Intersection. Heading, Altitude, Power Setting. A stabilized approach will give you the time to plan for a Go Around as well as you planned for your Initial T/O.

RTFM AFM (POH or AOI) Performance Charts Speeds for safe operation Emergency procedures Systems

Doh!

Once you begin a go-around, you can change your mind: only once never in order to salvage the landing if conditions improve as often as necessary

Once you begin a go-around, you can change your mind: only once never in order to salvage the landing if conditions improve as often as necessary

Destabilizing Factors Excessive Speed Excessive Altitude Maneuvering ATC and traffic

It’s hard to say “unable” Skilled Competent Adaptable Accommodating Rise to the Occasion Mission Oriented Git ‘er done

CFIs: Part of the Problem Taking control can: Salvage the landing or approach Save time and money Keep the training on schedule Impress the student And maybe even the boss But, it may send the wrong message Let the student go around, and then Validate their good judgment

So when should I go around? Whenever the approach becomes unstable At or below 1000 ft – IFR At or below 500 ft – VFR Whenever a landing can’t be made Runway out of service Traffic on runway Make the decision early Stick to it Changing your mind is destabilizing

Another Question!

To pre-solo students only To IFR students only Never Always Flight instructors should demonstrate how to salvage an unstabilized approach To pre-solo students only To IFR students only Never Always When training new instructors

To pre-solo students only To IFR students only Never Always Flight instructors should demonstrate how to salvage an unstabilized approach To pre-solo students only To IFR students only Never Always When training new instructors

So how should I go around? PRIORITIZE!

Go-Around and Missed Approach Priorities Aviate Maintain aircraft control Arrest descent Apply climb or level flight power When you have a positive rate of climb, configure flaps, gear, etc. for climb or level flight.

Go-Around and Missed Approach Priorities Navigate IFR, Continue to missed approach point, and then Fly the missed approach procedure or Follow ATC instructions VFR Continue to runway threshold & climb to pattern altitude, then Maneuver to remain in or re-enter pattern, or

Go-Around and Missed Approach Priorities Communicate IFR Tower or CTAF ATC – state intentions VFR Traffic call – state intentions

I know this one!

go around early and often fly the aircraft first The order of priority in executing a missed approach or go-around should be: go around early and often fly the aircraft first aviate, communicate, navigate aviate, navigate, communicate communicate, aviate, navigate

go around early and often fly the aircraft first The order of priority in executing a missed approach or go-around should be: go around early and often fly the aircraft first aviate, communicate, navigate aviate, navigate, communicate communicate, aviate, navigate

Automation Dependency

Automation Dependency Something to consider when flying a “glass cockpit”: As Situational Awareness increases with Automation, Stick and Rudder proficiency can deteriorate due to “letting George do it” Hand Fly Departures and Arrivals whenever possible

Executing a Safe Go-Around initiate at first sign of instability smoothly apply full (or takeoff) power rudder to keep pointing straight pitch to normal climb attitude gradually clean up aircraft

Final Question!

Good practices to achieve stability are: manage distractions seek refresher training preset frequencies participate in FAA WINGS program all of the above

Good practices to achieve stability are: manage distractions seek refresher training preset frequencies participate in FAA WINGS program all of the above

Tips and Tricks PLAN for the missed approach or go around Preset the frequencies you’ll need Manage Distractions Practice missed approaches & go-arounds So that they become second nature. Seek refresher training Annually Wings Pilot Proficiency Program When returning to flying after period of inactivity

ACKNOWLEDGMENT: The presenter thanks the FAA General Aviation Joint Steering Committee (GAJSC) for providing materials used in this Webinar.

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My Upcoming EAA Webinars 13 May 2020, 8 PM EDT Operation at Towered Airports 8 July 2020, 8 PM EDT Fast Track to Experimental 9 September 2020, 8 PM EDT Topic to be announced