If you realize you cannot establish a stabilized approach by the expected point, what should you do?

If you realize you cannot establish a stabilized approach by the expected point, what should you do?

• A. Continue the approach to touchdown
• B. Go around, reconfigure, and re-establish a stabilized approach from a safe position
• C. Delay decision until below minimums
• D. Immediately land at the first suitable field

Answer: (B)

When the approach isn’t stabilized by the expected point, the safest course is to go around, reconfigure, and re-establish a stabilized approach from a safe position. A stabilized approach means you’re on the correct flight path, with the proper airspeed, descent rate, and configuration, so you can land confidently from that point without last-minute corrections. If you realize you won’t meet those conditions, continuing toward the runway only increases the risk of a hard landing, a stall, or an abrupt corrective maneuver near the ground. So you increase thrust to establish a positive climb, adjust the aircraft configuration as required (such as setting the appropriate flap and power settings for a go-around), re-trim, and then re-intercept the approach from a safe altitude and position. Once you’re stabilized again, you can proceed with the approach and landing with greater safety. This approach is preferred over continuing an unstabilized approach, delaying decision below minimums, or trying to force a landing in a non-stabilized setup.

When the approach isn’t stabilized by the expected point, the safest course is to go around, reconfigure, and re-establish a stabilized approach from a safe position. A stabilized approach means you’re on the correct flight path, with the proper airspeed, descent rate, and configuration, so you can land confidently from that point without last-minute corrections. If you realize you won’t meet those conditions, continuing toward the runway only increases the risk of a hard landing, a stall, or an abrupt corrective maneuver near the ground.

So you increase thrust to establish a positive climb, adjust the aircraft configuration as required (such as setting the appropriate flap and power settings for a go-around), re-trim, and then re-intercept the approach from a safe altitude and position. Once you’re stabilized again, you can proceed with the approach and landing with greater safety.

This approach is preferred over continuing an unstabilized approach, delaying decision below minimums, or trying to force a landing in a non-stabilized setup.