Foundation Releases Go-Around Execution and Decision-Making Project Final Report

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Go-around policy noncompliance is a significant problem and a potential threat to aviation safety, according to the final report of the Go-Around Decision-Making and Execution Project, released today by Flight Safety Foundation. The project and subsequent report were commissioned by the Foundation and conducted by The Presage Group to determine why the rate of pilot compliance with the stabilized approach policies in use by airlines and other aircraft operations is so poor.

“Although around 96 percent of all approaches are considered stable, of the 4 percent that are unstable, only around 3 percent of those result in a go-around,” said Greg Marshall, the Foundation’s vice president, global programs.

While many airlines have robust policies and compliance monitoring processes in place, many others do not, and managers often are unaware of the compliance rate of their pilots, the project found.

The report considers several important questions from a psychological and practical perspective: Why is a policy designed to prevent the most common cause of accidents not being followed by pilots? Why is management ineffective in monitoring this? Why don’t pilots conduct go-arounds when the parameters diverge from their stabilized approach criteria?

The report also looks at the risks associated with the go-around procedure itself.

The report concludes with findings and recommendations that are designed to assist with improving stabilized approach criteria and are provided for industry consideration. The report also looks at touchdown zone guidance and how improved awareness can lead to the mitigation of runway overrun events.

The Foundation would like to receive feedback on the report and its contents from organizations currently amending their stabilized approach policies or considering amendments. Please direct comments to Greg Marshall, vice president, global programs, at marshall@flightsafety.org.

###

About Flight Safety Foundation
Flight Safety Foundation is an independent, nonprofit, international organization engaged in research, education, advocacy and publishing to improve aviation safety. The Foundation’s mission is to be the leading voice of safety for the global aerospace community.

Go-Around Project Contact:
Greg Marshall, Vice President, Global Programs
marshall@flightsafety.org

Media Contact:
Frank Jackman, Vice President, Communications
+1 703-739-6700, ext. 116
jackman@flightsafety.org