What is the purpose of a go-around decision and when is it performed?

• A. To ensure a safe landing when the approach becomes unstable or unsafe; a go-around and reconfiguration for another approach are performed.
• B. To expedite landing by lowering the approach speed.
• C. To avoid landing lights at night.
• D. To depressurize the cabin during approach.

Answer: (A)

Go-around is a safety maneuver that kicks in when a landing attempt can’t be continued safely. Its purpose is to guarantee obstacle clearance and give the crew time to reconfigure the airplane and set up for another approach or diversion. It’s performed whenever the approach becomes unstable or unsafe to continue—examples include an excessive sink rate, deviation from the intended glide path or runway alignment, not having the required visual references at minimums, or ATC instructions due to traffic or weather. During a go-around, pilots apply go-around thrust, establish a positive climb, and follow the aircraft’s published procedure to retract the landing configuration as appropriate and prepare for another approach. The goal is safe energy management and a clean transition to a new approach, not to speed up the landing, avoid lights, or depressurize the cabin.