RESOURCES:
the GAJSC website
Chapter 8 of the FAA Pilot’s Handbook ofAeronautical Knowledge
Advisory Circular 91-79A
recent FAA FlySafe notice
General Aviation Joint Safety Committee
CFIT Working Group
Outreach Guidance Document
2023/10-29-300(I)PP
This outreach guidance is provided to all FAA and aviation industry groups that are participating in outreach efforts sponsored by the General Aviation Joint Safety Committee (GAJSC). It is important that all outreach on a given topic is coordinated and is free of conflicts. Therefore, all outreach products should be in alignment with the outline and concepts listed below for this topic.
Outreach Month: April 2025
Topic: Stabilized Approach and Go-around
The FAA and industry will conduct a public education campaign emphasizing the benefits of stabilized approaches for VFR and IFR operations and for making and acting on timely go-around decisions.
Background:
A GAJSC study found that the second largest group of fatal loss of control accidents occurred during the approach phase of flight. Many of those accidents resulted from an un-stabilized approach or a failure to go-around.
Teaching Points:
- Nearly 20% of fatal loss of control accidents occur during the approach phase of flight.
- Stabilized approachs are the foundations of successful landings.
- Stabilized approaches are equally important for VFR and IFR operations.
- Pilots should be prepared to go-around whenever an approach becomes unstable.
- Instructors should not salvage unstable approaches but should reenforce go-around training by allowing students to determine when an approach is unstable, then fly a missed approach or go-around.
References
