Acknowledgements: John Zimmerman (AIR
FACTS)
(Ed.
Note: The following is an edited version of John’s original article)
“I
recently flew a real missed approach in instrument conditions. While we all
practice them during instrument training, actual missed approaches are pretty
rare, as we usually have a pretty good idea that we will get in before starting
an approach. Not so on this day. The METAR was fluctuating from just above
minimums to just below minimums, and we decided to take a shot. At the missed
approach point there were no lights, so we diverted to our alternate. Simple,
right? Not really!
Whilst I
was intellectually prepared for a missed approach, I really wasn’t emotionally prepared.
I hadn’t done this for real in years. So, when it came time to execute this
seemingly simple manoeuvre, I ended up getting behind the airplane just a
bit. I was coping, not flying.
You might
call it the three stages of the missed approach mind-set, none of which is good!
- shock at having to go around
- a feeling of being overwhelmed by all the tasks that needed to be completed
- a temptation to try it again
To combat
that mind-set, here are a few rules I made for myself:
- Use the autopilot. While you should be able to hand fly an approach down to minimums, that doesn’t mean you have to do it every time. When it’s really low, I think it’s much safer to let the autopilot fly. That makes you management, not labour, so you can keep the big picture in mind and be ready to react. It’s hard to be ready to go around if you’re task-saturated and busy keeping the wings level.
- Plan ahead – and don’t change your mind. Cruise flight is a good time to make a plan for your approach and potential missed approach procedure. Think through exactly what the approach sequence will look like: what power settings will you use, what descent rate will you use, what are you looking for and what is the first thing you’ll do if you go missed? Talk it through before you get busy and commit to this plan.
- Don’t cheat – don’t even hesitate. Easier said than done, but it’s critical to stay disciplined here. On my missed approach, we saw glimpses of the ground as we started the missed approach. But we could only see down, but not ahead to the runway. Don’t dive for a hole, don’t “go down another 50 feet,” and don’t drive on past the MAP in the hopes that something miraculous will happen. Stick to the plan. There is no grey area here and no negotiation: land the airplane only if you see the runway environment at minimums, or go around.
- Approach lights matter. I once knew the difference between REIL, MALSR and all the rest of the approach lighting systems, but I long ago forgot the particulars. These may seem like academic nuances, but on a low approach, briefing the approach lighting system and knowing what to expect can make a big difference. In my case, the runway only had the two REILs, which are not nearly as visible as a full “rabbit.”
- Climb and maintain control; the rest can wait. When you decide to execute the missed approach, it’s time to climb, NOW and quickly, keeping the airplane under control! If you’ve self-briefed your approach (and your missed approach), you already know what to do. ATC, your passengers, and your avionics can wait until you’ve started climbing and are stabilised.
- No second approaches. It’s so tempting to come back around for another try, especially if you saw one of those sucker holes at minimums. Don’t do it. The accident record shows that second approaches often end badly, because the temptation to cheat is very strong.
We don’t
usually think of it that way, but the missed approach is really a maximum
performance manoeuvre. In the
span of about 60 seconds, and at very low altitude, you are forced
to climb, change the aircraft configuration, reprogram the GPS and talk on
the radio. All this while maintaining control in the clouds. The key is to make your
decisions long before you ever start the approach, so that a missed approach
is an automatic reaction.”
FLY SAFE!
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