FSF Study Recommends New Go-around SOPs

A new study recommends redefining approach go-around criteria for business and commercial aviation operations. Only 3 percent of commercial pilots comply with SOPs mandating go-arounds if the aircraft is not on a stabilized approach at or below 1,000 feet agl; corporate pilots are believed to be equally non-observant.

Compliance could eliminate 54 percent of accidents, according to the study, but most pilots believe the standard is unrealistic and thus have little incentive to observe it. “Understanding the Psychology of Non-compliance in Go-around Decision Making” also finds these pilots score lower on all measures of situational awareness and are less communicative with other crewmembers than compliant pilots. Yet the estimated 330 airline go-arounds per day for compliance would create risks of their own.

The study, presented late last week by risk management consultancy Presage founder Dr. Martin Smith at the Flight Safety Foundation/NBAA Business Aviation Safety Seminar in Austin, Texas, recommends making 300 feet, rather than 1,000 feet agl, the go-around height for unstable approaches. The study, commissioned by the FSF, also recommends enhancing landing go-around criteria. In the interim, recommended measures include installing stable approach and alerting systems on aircraft, as well as ensuring flight crews actively communicate during approach and landing.