Go on the second circle

[milan2003_07]

Sometimes it happens that an airplane is landing, but before touching the ground it suddenly (or gradually) starts taking off again because something has happened. The reason could be mist above the ground or some technical problems with the plane (e.g., undercarriage), which make him take off again.

Below is the sentence I've made up myself:

"The airplane was about to land, but then it suddently went on the second circle and landed at Frankfurt airport 30 minutes later".

It the sentence correct? By "go on the second circle" I mean a new circle made by the plane in order to descend again and then land.

 

[Tarheel]

It the sentence correct? By "go on the second circle" I mean a new circle made by the plane in order to descend again and then land.

The airplane didn't land. It ascended, and then another attempt was made to land the airplane -- either there or somewhere else.

 

[SoothingDave]

The airplane was coming in for a landing, when the pilot suddenly aborted the landing. We circled around and landed 30 minutes later.

 

[emsr2d2]

The airline term for this is a "go-around".

 

[probus]

Not only with airlines but also in general aviation this is called a go-around. During the early stages of pilot training long series of go-arounds are performed, and this is called doing touch and goes.

 

[Tarheel]

Below is A sentence I've made up myself:

"The airplane was about to land, but then it suddently went on the second circle and landed at Frankfurt airport 30 minutes later".

There is no reason for "suddenly" there. In fact, if I was a passenger on board that airplane I would hope it wouldn't be all that sudden. Just say they aborted the landing and did a go around (a term I just learned).

 

[milan2003_07]

The term "go-around" is just the one I've been looking for. Now I believe it's idiomatic and is used to describe "aborting the landing and landing again some time later".

Well, I think "go-around" can sometimes happen all of a sudden. For example, if a plane is landing and suddenly pilots realize something is wrong with undercarriage or any other airplane equipment they can decide to elevate the nose of the plane and start ascending just when the plane is about to touch the ground. This decision can be made very quickly compared to the time the airplane is landing.

 

[Tarheel]

Are you arguing for the use of "suddenly" there? (That word would apply to a crash landing, wouldn't it?)

 

[emsr2d2]

The only go-around I've been involved in was certainly very sudden!

 

[milan2003_07]

Are you arguing for the use of "suddenly" there? (That word would apply to a crash landing, wouldn't it?)

I just mean that sometimes go-around can be done suddenly.

In other cases, this decision can be made by pilots when the airplane has just started to descend.

A go-around doesn't necessarily involve crash landing. Well, I'm not an expert in aviation, but I think crash landing is performed when regular landing becomes impossible for some reason. But pilots can decide to do a go-around when they see mist above the ground and want this mist to disperse before they land a plane. Also, there can be too much petrol in fuel tanks and they need to get rid of petrol before landing - in this case a go-around is also done, but I don't think it's emergency landing.

 

[milan2003_07]

I've heard about some cases when planes are forced to land soon after take-off due to malfunction of some on-board systems or, for example, engine fire. Before landing they do several go-arounds to spend (is 'spend' a correct word here?) the fuel.

If they land with too much fuel, it can explode.

 

[probus]

1. Spend is the wrong word. Use burn instead.

2. In a few aircraft types it is possible to take off with so much fuel that the aircraft would be too heavy to land. When I learned to fly (long ago), if a forced landing had to be made soon after takeoff pilots might simply pump their excess fuel overboard in order to lighten the aircraft. Nowadays of course environmental rules prohibit that, and the only alternative is to fly around long enough to burn the extra fuel before landing.

 

[milan2003_07]

1. Spend is the wrong word. Use burn instead.

2. In a few aircraft types it is possible to take off with so much fuel that the aircraft would be too heavy to land. When I learned to fly (long ago), if a forced landing had to be made soon after takeoff pilots might simply pump their excess fuel overboard in order to lighten the aircraft. Nowadays of course environmental rules prohibit that, and the only alternative is to fly around long enough to burn the extra fuel before landing.

Thanks for 'burn'. This is the suitable word.

I absolutely agree that most airplanes are too heavy to land after takeoff because they have a lot of fuel in the tanks. This is the reason why they do a go-around in the air before landing. It is really important to lighten the aircraft. I agree that pumping fuel overboard isn't done today due to environmental issues.

Very good explanation indeed! Thanks probus!