Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Go-Around Rejected Landing Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) • ACS Area V, Task N
The Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Go-Around/Rejected Landing Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with go-around/rejected landing with emphasis on factors that contribute to landing conditions that may require a go-around.
Introduction
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Schedule
Topic:Time:Part 1, Introduction:0:05Part 2, Go-Around/Rejected Landing Situations:0:10Part 3, Stabilized Approach Concepts:0:10Part 4, Factors Impacting Climb Performance:0:10Part 5, Go-Around/Rejected Landings Procedure:0:10Part 6, Go-Around/Rejected Landings Risk Management:0:10Part 7, Go-Around/Rejected Landings Guided Scenario(s):0:10Part 8, Practical Application:0:10Part 9, Conclude Lesson:0:10Remotivation/Closure:0:05Total Ground Time:0:00
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Attention Getter:
- Research and present a mishap case study:
- Discuss how the initial conditions developed into an incident/accident/mishap.
- Relate similar personal experiences of the same type of incident/accident/mishap.
- Consider incorporating a case study as a guided scenario.
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Motivator:
- Normal aircraft landings are the most basic of all landing procedures/maneuvers.
- The purpose of this maneuver is to safely execute a landing under normal conditions (i.e., hard surface, minimal wind, plenty of available landing distance).
- Normal landings are closely related to the performance of flight at minimum controllable airspeeds.
- While this procedure is for normal landing, assuming the wind is blowing right down the runway, that will almost never be the case.
Materials
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Required Materials:
- Writing instrument (pen, marker, etc.).
- Writing surface (paper, whiteboard, etc.).
- Weight and Balance worksheet.
- Pilot Information/Operating Handbook.
- Airman Certification Standards.
- Student jacket.
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Optional Materials:
- Personal Weather Minimums Worksheet.
- Instructor endorsement log.
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Reference Materials:
- Approach and Landing Supplement.
- Airplane Stall and Recovery Procedures Supplement.
- Instructor Endorsement Log.
- Takeoff and Climb Performance Supplement.
- Takeoff and Climb Supplement.
- Wake Turbulence Supplement.
- Fitness for Flight Supplement.
- Aeronautical Information Manual.
- Risk Management Handbook.
- Airplane Flying Handbook.
- Seaplane, Skiplane, and Float/ski Equipped Helicopter Operations Handbook.
- Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.
- Visual Scanning and Collision Avoidance Supplement.
- Flight Deck Management Supplement.
- Taxiing Supplement.
- Radio Communications Supplement.
- Test-taking Guidance.
- Test Guides.
- The Checkride Supplement.
Instructor Actions
- Before the lesson, review reference materials.
- Part 1, Introduce the lesson:
- Review the lesson plan, including the attention and motivator.
- Review the airman certification standards.
- Introduce normal approach and landing.
- Part 2, Go-Around/Rejected Landing Situations:
- Introduce go-around/rejected landing situations:
- Excessive float.
- Unstable approach.
- Traffic conflict.
- Wind shear.
- Bounce.
- Runway incursion.
- Compare: Salvaging a landing vs executing a go-around.
- Introduce why a go-around is a normal maneuver, not an emergency.
- Introduce go-around/rejected landing situations:
- Part 3, Stabilized Approach Concepts:
- Review: Airspeed, descent rate, alignment, configuration.
- Introduce stabilized vs unstable approach indicators.
- Explain how unstable energy states develop.
- Part 4, Factors Impacting Climb Performance:
- Introduce surface wind impacts to go-arounds/rejected landings performance, including determining wind direction with or without visual indicators.
- Introduce wind shear impacts to go-arounds/rejected landings performance.
- Introduce wake turbulence considerations during go-arounds/rejected landings.
- Introduce outside air temperature and field elevation/density altitude impacts to go-arounds/rejected landings performance.
- Introduce runway surface condition impacts to go-arounds/rejected landings.
- Introduce runway slope impacts to go-arounds/rejected landings.
- Introduce gross weight center of gravity impacts and to go-arounds/rejected landings.
- Introduce power settings impacts to go-arounds/rejected landings.
- Introduce flight profile impacts to go-arounds/rejected landings.
- Introduce nose strut slope impacts to go-arounds/rejected landings.
- Introduce tire pressure impacts to go-arounds/rejected landings.
- Review stabilized approaches.
- Part 5, Go-Around/Rejected Landings Procedure:
- Introduce go-arounds/rejected-landings procedure.
- Introduce aircraft configuration considerations during go-around:
- Power application.
- Pitch control.
- Flap retraction sequence.
- Trim effects.
- Introduce delayed performance.
- Discuss appropriate go-around radio calls.
- Discuss traffic pattern conflicts during go-around execution.
- Discuss go-around/Rejected landings common errors.
- Part 6, Go-Around/Rejected Landings Risk Management:
- Introduce go-around/rejected landing decision making.
- When to stop trying to salvage an unstable approach.
- Why delayed decisions increase risk.
- Introduce collision avoidance/rejoining traffic pattern considerations.
- Review power-on stalls.
- Review elevator trim stalls.
- Why premature flap retraction is hazardous.
- Why excessive pitch causes stall risk.
- Introduce low-altitude hazards:
- Stall/spin risk.
- CFIT risk.
- Overrotation.
- Aggressive climb vs controlled transition.
- Task Prioritization:
- Aircraft control.
- Configuration.
- Navigation.
- Communication.
- Discuss fixation tendencies during an unstable landing.
- Introduce go-around/rejected landing decision making.
- Part 7, Go-Around/Rejected Landings Guided Scenario(s):
- Part 8, Practical Application:
- Require student to:
- Maintain runway tracking.
- Scan for conflicting traffic.
- Rejoin traffic flow appropriately.
- Monitor transition to Vy/Vx, as appropriate.
- Monitor configuration changes.
- Monitor normal/crosswind/maximum performance climb procedures.
- Monitor checklist completion.
- Monitor workload management.
- Require student to:
- Part 9, Conclude Lesson:
- Relate lesson to power-on stalls.
- Present the remotivation, conclude, and provide guidance for follow-on lessons.
- Review student actions required ahead of the next lesson.
- Update instructor endorsement records and the student's jacket, as required.
Guided Scenario(s)
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- Related scenarios:
Student Actions
- Complete the assigned readings (see content above).
- Ask pertinent questions.
- Perform self-assessment, including fitness for flight and personal minimums, as appropriate.
- Make a go/no-go decision, as appropriate.
Airman Certification Standards
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Go-Around Rejected Landing Airman Certification Standards
- Objective: To determine whether the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with go-around/rejected landing with emphasis on factors that contribute to landing conditions that may require a go-around.
- References: AIM; FAA-H-8083-2 (Risk Management Handbook), FAA-H-8083-3 (Airplane Flying Handbook), FAA-H-8083-23 (Seaplane, Skiplane, and Float/Ski Equipped Helicopter Operations Handbook), FAA-H-8083-25 (Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge); POH/AFM.
Knowledge 4 ACS Elements
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CA.IV.N.K1: -
CA.IV.N.K2: Effects of atmospheric conditions, including wind and density altitude, on a go-around or rejected landing. -
CA.IV.N.K3: Wind correction techniques on takeoff/departure and approach/landing. -
CA.IV.N.K4: Go-around/rejected landing procedures, the importance of a timely decision, and appropriate airspeeds for the maneuver.
Risk Management 9 ACS Elements
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CA.IV.N.R1: Delayed recognition of the need for a go-around/rejected landing. -
CA.IV.N.R2: Delayed performance of a go-around at low altitude. -
CA.IV.N.R3: Power application. -
CA.IV.N.R4: Configuring the airplane. -
CA.IV.N.R5: -
CA.IV.N.R6: Low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin, or controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). -
CA.IV.N.R7: -
CA.IV.N.R8: -
CA.IV.N.R9: Managing a go-around/rejected landing after accepting a LAHSO clearance.
Skills 9 ACS Elements
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CA.IV.N.S1: Complete the appropriate checklist(s). -
CA.IV.N.S2: Make radio calls as appropriate. -
CA.IV.N.S3: -
CA.IV.N.S4: Apply takeoff power immediately and transition to climb pitch attitude for Vx or Vy as appropriate ±5 knots. -
CA.IV.N.S5: Configure the airplane after a positive rate of climb has been verified or in accordance with airplane manufacturer's instructions. -
CA.IV.N.S6: Maneuver to the side of the runway/landing area when necessary to clear and avoid conflicting traffic. -
CA.IV.N.S7: Maintain VY ±5 knots to a safe maneuvering altitude. -
CA.IV.N.S8: Maintain directional control and proper wind-drift correction throughout the climb. -
CA.IV.N.S9: Use runway incursion avoidance procedures, if applicable.
Conclusion
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Re-Motivation:
- Go Around Rejected Landing requires disciplined planning, stabilized energy management, and precise control from the approach through touchdown and rollout.
- Evaluating wind, runway conditions, obstacles, aircraft performance, and personal limitations helps pilots recognize when an approach remains safe and when a timely go-around is required.
- Consistent airspeed control, runway alignment, traffic scanning, communication, and checklist discipline integrate aircraft handling with sound operational judgment.
- Continued practice with Go Around Rejected Landing prepares commercial pilots for changing conditions and increasingly demanding landing scenarios in later training.
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Closure:
- The FAA provides test-taking guidance and test guides on its website.
- To learn more about preparing for the practical test, visit the checkride page.
- Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson.
- Assign study materials for the next lesson.