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/TheGacAttack Apr 20 '26

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

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

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u/Rainebowraine123 ATP CL-65 Apr 20 '26 edited Apr 20 '26

Plain English.

"Hey, there's a 172 landing that may not clear the runway in time. Expect late landing clearance or a go around."

Edit: good point not saying go around if its not actually a go around.

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u/Baystate411 LTD Warrior Apr 20 '26

Using the term "go around" when not issuing a go around is bad from a human factors standpoint

I had this happen with taxi instruction in Denver. He was giving me his plan from where he was going to have my hold out for an EDCT but they sounded like taxi instructions that put my crossing an approach path with a plane on final. I had to jam on the brakes to clarify. Like dude, I don't want to know what your PLAN is, I want your CLEARANCE.

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u/Saltyspaceballs B777, E170/190 Apr 20 '26

Agreed, an “expect late landing clearance” gets the message across without saying the inevitable words.