Going around what to do?

"Rachel" wrote in message
. ..
Chris G. wrote:
Sorry, I don't fly over the same runway when another aircraft could be
right below me, or that I could run into it. ATC would be quite okay
with you sidestepping.

ATC is usually not ok with you doing something unless they've told you to
do it or they know you're going to do it.

True, but ATC isn't likely to suffer the ultimate price should there be a
mid-air collision. I'm announcing intentions and keeping the rogue aircraft
in sight. If ATC has a problem with that, we can sort it out later.

KB

In article . com,
"Nik" wrote:

What would you do in the following situtation:

You are approaching a non towered field, communicate right and all that
stuff, your on final, suddenly a cessna pulls up and starts it's take
off roll.

Aviate, Navigate, Communicate.

How much space is between the two of you? If he's already rolling and
you're still 1/4 mile out, the safest thing might be to just land behind
him.

The alternative is to go around.

There is no one right answer.

Nik wrote:
What would you do in the following situtation:

You are approaching a non towered field, communicate right and all that
stuff, your on final, suddenly a cessna pulls up and starts it's take
off roll.

I would immediately abort the approach, climb, and maneuver so I was
flying parallel to the runway at a safe distance until I could get a
better sense of what the other pilot is going to do. As soon as
practical, get out of the pattern and re-enter it per the published
procedures (standard or otherwise). At no time would I put myself in
front of the other plane, since I then lose my only defense against a
midair--visual contact with the other aircraft so I can maintain
separation. How can I trust that this pilot, who didn't acknowledge my
presence before by either waiting or making radio calls, will see me?
Answer: I don't trust that pilot, or any other when it comes to my own
safety.

Also lets bring the same situation to a towered airport where the
controller tells you to go around while you are on final.

I go around. If the scenario matches the above, I would still abort,
climb, and fly parallel to the runway, all the while explaining to ATC
what my intentions are. I'm not the one who would get busted because
I'm complying with the instruction to "Go Around", I'm the one on final,
and I'm maneuvering to avoid a collision. An argument *could* be made
(though I'm not sure how strong or weak it is) that I was in an
"emergency situation" and was deviating from whatever regulations I
needed to in order to avoid contact with another aircraft.

The way I fly, if the controller says "go around", by the time he
finishes the word "around", my throttle is already wide open. My
instructor taught me well to have an instinctive reaction to going
around. It saved my bacon a couple times after some approaches that
didn't translate into good landings.

I am asking this because I am just wondering that at some point the
aircraft could collide (one climbing out, the other at pattern
altitude), and what the pilot going around should do...

The aircraft will collide only if you let them (provided you have time
to avoid the situation).

Chris G.

Nik wrote:
What would you do in the following situtation:

You are approaching a non towered field, communicate right and all that
stuff, your on final, suddenly a cessna pulls up and starts it's take
off roll.

Also lets bring the same situation to a towered airport where the
controller tells you to go around while you are on final.

I am asking this because I am just wondering that at some point the
aircraft could collide (one climbing out, the other at pattern
altitude), and what the pilot going around should do...


This EXACT situation happened to me on about my
second or third time of solo flying practice in the
pattern. I had been flying a few circuits around the
pattern, announcing my position the way I'd been
taught. I was landing at a comfortable interval
behind another aircraft, but as soon as the aircraft
in front of me crossed the threshold, a departing
plane pulled out in front of me to get in position for
a takeoff roll. I kept the departing plane in sight,
and announced "Cessna 123XY going around
due to traffic on the runway". (I probably should
have specified "departing traffic", because just after
I made my announcement, the aircraft which had
just landed and cleared the runway said "Bonanza
234ab is clear of the runway" -- he may have thought
I was tailgating him). I heard another voice
say "he pulled right out in front of you, didn't he?".
I started climbing to pattern altitude and kept the
departing plane in sight by a combination of moving
to the right a bit and slipping. I got to pattern
altitude about the time I was over the far end
of the runway. About then, I decided it was silly to
follow the runway centerline all the way to a normal
crosswind, especially with the rogue aircraft climing
on nearly the same trajectory, so I did a short crosswind
while he was still well below me and I joined the normal
base leg, announcing intentions the whole way.

I never heard the departing aircraft say anything.
I assume he had no radio or was too embarassed.

I'm not sure that what I did was textbook perfect; I was
improvising as a very green student. But the important
thing was that I kept the departing aircraft in sight,
I announced my intentions, I stayed in a fairly normal
pattern watching for other traffic, I didn't make any
assumptions that the departing aircraft had a radio
or was going to follow any standard procedures, and
I didn't let his mistake upset me too much.

--Rich

In article . com,
"Nik" wrote:

What would you do in the following situtation:

You are approaching a non towered field, communicate right and all that
stuff, your on final, suddenly a cessna pulls up and starts it's take
off roll.

Also lets bring the same situation to a towered airport where the
controller tells you to go around while you are on final.
I am asking this because I am just wondering that at some point the
aircraft could collide (one climbing out, the other at pattern
altitude), and what the pilot going around should do...

Power up, pitch up, flaps up.
If you are in a retract, leave the gear down, your Vx and Vy speeds will
be lower and you won't have to worry about forgetting in on the next
circuit.
Fly to the right of the departing aircraft.
Allow the departing aircraft to accelerate ahead of you.
Turn left, enter the pattern and land normally.
Why follow the departing aircraft?
You are ready to land.

Nik wrote:

What would you do in the following situtation:

You are approaching a non towered field, communicate right and all that
stuff, your on final, suddenly a cessna pulls up and starts it's take
off roll.

You go around. I make a standard procedure of keeping to the right of the
runway during all go-arounds, sometimes informally called a "sidestep." At
a towered field you may be asked to go around and not told why. Keeping
right lets you keep the runway in view out your left window and gets you
out of the way of any other aircraft that may be landing/taking off until
you can maintain visual contact to avoid them.

You don't have to go far to the right, just enough to allow you to see the
runway and be out of the way for any fast climbers.

It's normal to stay to the RIGHT of the runway. This is especially useful
when you find yourself on a nice final approach and then notice that some
clown decided to land downwind on the opposing runway. Both aircraft can
go around and be out of each other's way and be safe.

Obviously if there are parallel runways in use or other special
circumstances (obstacles) the procedure may differ.

Practice go-arounds often at different phases of landing. Know what your
airplane requires (flaps set x degrees? Carb heat off? Mixture is already
rich? Prop is already forward? Gear up? Full power? Spoilers
retracted?) by heart.

"Nik" wrote in message
ups.com...

What would you do in the following situtation:

You are approaching a non towered field, communicate right and all that
stuff, your on final, suddenly a cessna pulls up and starts it's take
off roll.


I'd either land or go around, it depends on how much room I'll have behind
the Cessna.



Also lets bring the same situation to a towered airport where the
controller tells you to go around while you are on final.


If I'm VFR or on a visual approach I'll overfly the runway while climbing to
traffic pattern altitude and enter the traffic pattern via the crosswind
leg, unless given other instructions by the controller. If I'm on an
instrument approach I'll execute the published missed approach procedure or
proceed as instructed by the controller.



I am asking this because I am just wondering that at some point the
aircraft could collide (one climbing out, the other at pattern
altitude), and what the pilot going around should do...


I'd avoid colliding.

Nik wrote:
What would you do in the following situtation:

You are approaching a non towered field, communicate right and all that
stuff, your on final, suddenly a cessna pulls up and starts it's take
off roll.

Depends on other factors, especially WHERE on final I am.

Other than that, most of these types of questions are pointless. G

Depends on other factors, especially WHERE on final I am

True enough. If you're far enough behind the departing acft and can
maintain a safe interval (maybe with S turns) then you can continue the
approach, otherwise I've taught my students to be spring-loaded for a
go-around.

Just swing to the right and stay clear of the jerk and continue back
around the pattern.
I have had it happen to me at least a dozen times in the last thirty
years.