Tuesday 26 August 2008

PPL Ex 13: The GO-AROUND (Part of Ex 13)

Based on the Cessna 152: The Go-Around is a very critical manoeuvre. It is, therefore, important to get it right. By definition, the aircraft is LOW and SLOW and is in a vulnerable condition with low energy close to the ground. The time-honoured priorities of Aviate - Navigate - Communicate apply, as they do with all aspects of flying. The priority here is to first of all fly the aircraft AND to get away safely from Mother Earth, then to navigate the aircraft and, only when these two conditions are satisfied, to communicate with ATC. A COMMON ERROR is transmitting to ATC during the early stages of the go-around manoeuvre when the priority is flying the aircraft.
The (FLY part 1.) Procedure is: Apply Full Power smoothly and without delay. This means CARB AIR to COLD at the same time as pushing the THROTTLE fully OPEN. Simultaneously pitch the aircraft up to the GO-AROUND ATTITUDE and apply the appropriate amount of RIGHT RUDDER to keep the aircraft in balance. Move the FLAP LEVER to the 10-degree* position and adjust the pitch attitude as required to maintain the speed you currently have OR a minimum of 54KIAS. If the go-around was initiated with the aircraft CLEAN then control the aircraft at a minimum of 60KIAS. Remember: Lookout - Attitude - Instruments. (*Note: A local rule at our FTO is Flap Lever 30 >>>>> 10. This is because the aircraft has an electric flap motor which moves the flaps fairly slowly. Mechanical Flaps would require Flaps ONE stage UP initially!).
The (NAVIGATE) Procedure is: With the aircraft in BALANCED flight check the Horizontal Indicator (HI) and fly (initially) straight ahead. Apply the appropriate amount of drift to the runway heading in order to achieve this (See Normal take-off procedure). Of course the go-around procedure may call for a turn and a final altitude (PPL/IR), but we are only concerned here with a go-around into the circuit.
The (COMMUNICATE) Procedure is: Transmit to ATC, "G-ODAC going around".
The (FLY part 2) Procedure is: Fly straight ahead to a minimum of 300ft AAL and apply the normal technique for raising flaps and turning onto crosswind and into the circuit.

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