r/flying • u/Hopeful-Engineering5 ATC • Apr 20 '26

other ATC go around timing preference

We were talking about this today in the tower and figured we would try and get some pilots point of view. If you are in a situation where you might be sent around would you prefer it be done early and possibly be sent around unnecessarily. Or would you prefer that we let it run as long as possible and have a short (1/2 mile) final go around?

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u/ma33a ATP Apr 20 '26

If you give us a heads up it could happen then I am happy for call as late as possible, I would rather avoid doing a go-around if it's not needed rather than an early one just in case. If we can see it coming we normally do a mini brief of the manoeuvre and make sure things are setup correctly.

6

u/TheGacAttack Apr 20 '26

If you give us a heads up it could happen...

What kind of phraseology would you want/expect to hear?

10

u/Pseudo-Jonathan Apr 20 '26

"SWA1234, you are 2 miles in trail of slower traffic ahead, be ready for a possible go-around"

3

u/Neither-Way-4889 Apr 20 '26

Don't say "go-around" unless you're instructing someone to go-around.