Plain English Meaning
A button or mode the pilot can select that tells the aircraft's automation to stop the approach and start climbing away in a controlled, pre-set manner.
Full Definition
An autopilot or flight director mode that, when engaged, commands a pre-programmed climb attitude and (in many systems) wings-level or runway-track guidance to fly a missed approach or go-around. In helicopters with coupled flight control systems, engaging G/A mode typically initiates a climb at a defined pitch attitude and airspeed, and may automatically disengage other approach modes.
Context Anchor
Seen in helicopter instrument procedures and Helicopter Flight Manual limitations for flight director, autopilot, or automatic flight control system use during a missed approach or go-around.
Derivation
G/A is shorthand for 'go-around,' the maneuver flown when an approach cannot be completed to landing. The slash is simply a written convention to separate the two letters of the abbreviation.
Why Pilots Care
It provides standardized guidance that reduces workload and helps maintain a safe flight path during a critical phase of flight.
Grounding Statement
At the point where the approach is no longer continued, selecting G/A mode changes the guidance from coming down toward landing to climbing away.
Intuition Check
G/A mode does not mean the helicopter automatically completes the entire missed approach for you. It means a guidance mode has been selected; the pilot must still add the required power, control the aircraft, monitor the instruments, and follow the approved procedure.
Example Sentence 1
When the crew was unable to acquire the runway environment at the decision altitude, the pilot pressed the G/A button and the autopilot transitioned to G/A mode, pitching up to the published climb attitude.
Example Sentence 2
The helicopter flight manual limits G/A mode use to specific gross weights and wind conditions.