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.

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Go-Around Rejected Landing Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Schedule

    Topic:
    Time:
    Part 1, Introduce the lesson:
    0:05
    Part 2, Go-Around/Rejected Landing Situations:
    0:10
    Part 3, Stabilized Approach Concepts:
    0:10
    Part 4, Factors Impacting Climb Performance:
    0:10
    Part 5, Go-Around/Rejected Landings Procedure:
    0:10
    Part 6, Go-Around/Rejected Landings Risk Management:
    0:10
    Part 7, Go-Around/Rejected Landings Guided Scenario(s):
    0:10
    Part 8, Practical Application:
    0:10
    Part 9, Conclude Lesson:
    0:10
    Remotivation/Closure:
    0:05
    Total Ground Time:
    0:00

  • Attention Getter:

  • Motivator:

    • A timely go-around is a normal maneuver that prevents an unstable approach or unsafe landing condition from becoming an accident.
    • Commercial pilots must recognize deteriorating conditions early, commit without hesitation, and control power, pitch, configuration, traffic avoidance, and communication during a high-workload transition close to the ground.

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Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Go-Around Rejected Landing Lesson Plan

Materials

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Go-Around Rejected Landing Lesson Plan

Instructor Actions

  • Review the maneuver's common errors and assess the learner's understanding of their mitigations.
  • Before the lesson, review reference materials.
  • Part 1, Introduce the lesson:
  • Part 2, Go-Around/Rejected Landing Situations:
    • Teach the learner to recognize conditions requiring a timely go-around or rejected landing. (CA.IV.N.R1)
      • Excessive float.
      • Unstable approach.
      • Traffic conflict.
      • Wind shear.
      • Bounce.
      • Runway incursion or conflicting traffic. (CA.IV.N.R8)
    • Compare: Salvaging a landing vs executing a go-around.
    • Elicit prior knowledge about go-arounds, then have the learner explain why a go-around is a normal maneuver rather than an emergency.
  • Part 3, Stabilized Approach Concepts:
    • Use an aircraft- or scenario-specific example, then have the learner explain a stabilized approach, including airspeed, descent rate, alignment, configuration, and energy management. (CA.IV.N.K1)
    • Compare stabilized and unstable approach indications and explain how unstable energy states develop.
  • Part 4, Factors Impacting Climb Performance:
    • Use an aircraft- or scenario-specific example, then have the learner explain how wind, wind shear, wake turbulence, temperature, density altitude, gross weight, center of gravity, airplane configuration, and available power affect go-around or rejected-landing performance. (CA.IV.N.K2)
    • Present a concrete example, then require the learner to explain and apply the wind-correction techniques required during the transition from approach and landing to takeoff power and climb. (CA.IV.N.K3)
  • Part 5, Go-Around/Rejected Landings Procedure:
    • Use an aircraft- or scenario-specific example, then have the learner explain the go-around/rejected-landing procedure, the importance of a timely decision, and the appropriate maneuver airspeeds. (CA.IV.N.K4)
    • Complete the appropriate checklist and make the appropriate radio call. (CA.IV.N.S1, CA.IV.N.S2)
    • Make a timely decision to discontinue the approach to landing. (CA.IV.N.S3)
    • Introduce aircraft configuration considerations during go-around:
      • Apply takeoff power immediately and transition to the appropriate climb pitch attitude for Vx or Vy ±5 knots. (CA.IV.N.R3, CA.IV.N.S4)
      • Pitch control.
      • Flap retraction sequence.
      • Trim effects.
    • Configure the airplane only after verifying a positive rate of climb or in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. (CA.IV.N.S5)
    • Maneuver to the side of the runway or landing area when necessary to see and avoid conflicting traffic. (CA.IV.N.S6)
    • Maintain Vy ±5 knots to a safe maneuvering altitude, directional control, and the proper wind-drift correction. (CA.IV.N.S7, CA.IV.N.S8)
    • Use runway-incursion-avoidance procedures, as applicable. (CA.IV.N.S9)
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply go-around/Rejected landings common errors.
  • Part 6, Go-Around/Rejected Landings Risk Management:
    • Teach go-around/rejected-landing decision making, including delayed recognition and delayed performance at low altitude. (CA.IV.N.R1, CA.IV.N.R2)
      • When to stop trying to salvage an unstable approach.
      • Why delayed decisions increase risk.
      • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of collision avoidance/rejoining traffic pattern considerations.
    • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain power-on stalls.
    • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain elevator trim stalls.
    • Use an aircraft- or scenario-specific example, then have the learner explain why premature flap retraction or improper configuration changes are hazardous. (CA.IV.N.R4)
    • Why excessive pitch causes stall risk.
    • Manage collision and low-altitude maneuvering hazards. (CA.IV.N.R5, CA.IV.N.R6)
      • Stall/spin risk.
      • CFIT (Controlled Flight into Terrain) risk.
      • Overrotation.
      • Aggressive climb vs controlled transition.
    • Task Prioritization:
      • Aircraft control.
      • Configuration.
      • Navigation.
      • Communication.
      • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply fixation tendencies during an unstable landing.
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply risk management for distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation. (CA.IV.N.R7)
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply managing a go-around or rejected landing after accepting a LAHSO clearance. (CA.IV.N.R9)
  • Part 7, Go-Around/Rejected Landings Guided Scenario(s):
    • Use the guided scenario to require recognition of an unstable approach, a timely go-around decision, traffic and runway-incursion avoidance, configuration and workload management, and a stabilized climb.
  • Part 8, Practical Application:
    • Require the learner to perform and explain the complete maneuver while the instructor assesses every applicable skill element:
      • 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.
  • Part 9, Conclude Lesson:
    • Tie lesson back to previous lessons (power-on stalls) to reinforce past experiences (law of readiness).
    • Present the remotivation, conclude, and provide guidance for follow-on lessons.
    • Review student actions required ahead of the next lesson.
  • Update the instructor log and student progress. Select the student and sign off completed objectives. If the student does not have a connected account, record the update manually in the instructor log and student training record.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Go-Around Rejected Landing Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

  • Present a realistic go-around/rejected-landing scenario and have the learner identify the condition requiring discontinuation, state objective decision criteria, and explain the proposed course of action.
  • Introduce changing traffic, wind, runway, LAHSO (Land and Hold Short Operations), or airplane-performance conditions and require the learner to prioritize aircraft control, configuration, collision avoidance, navigation, and communication.
  • Related scenarios:
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Go-Around Rejected Landing Lesson Plan

Student Actions

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Go-Around Rejected Landing Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Go-Around Rejected Landing Airman Certification Standards

Knowledge 4 ACS Elements
  • CA.IV.N.K1:
    A stabilized approach, including energy management concepts.
  • 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
Skills 9 ACS Elements
  • CA.IV.N.S1:
    Complete the appropriate checklist(s).
  • CA.IV.N.S2:
    Make radio calls as appropriate.
  • CA.IV.N.S3:
    Make a timely decision to discontinue the approach to landing.
  • 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.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Go-Around Rejected Landing Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • 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.

  • Closure:

    • The Federal Aviation Administration (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.