Definition
A go-around procedure that the pilot has mentally rehearsed and decided upon before beginning an approach, including the specific power setting, pitch attitude, configuration changes, and flight path to fly if the landing is rejected. It establishes the actions in advance so they can be executed immediately and correctly when needed.
Plain English
Before you start your approach, you decide exactly what you'll do if you have to abandon the landing — full power, what pitch to hold, when to retract flaps and gear, and where you'll go. That way, if you actually need to go around, you're not figuring it out under pressure.
Context Anchor
Used during approach and landing planning, especially before final approach, so the pilot is ready to climb away without hesitation if the landing should not continue.
Derivation
“Go-around” comes from the idea of abandoning one landing attempt and going around the traffic pattern for another try. “Sequence” means steps in order. Together, the phrase points to a planned order of actions, not a last-second guess.
Why Pilots Care
Following the preplanned sequence keeps workload low and prevents errors during a high-stress moment when a landing must be rejected.
Intuition Check
Do not think of this as a general intention to “go around if needed.” It means a specific order of actions the pilot has already reviewed before the approach or landing.
Example Sentence 1
As part of the approach briefing, she stated her preplanned go-around sequence: full power, pitch for climb, positive rate, flaps to approach setting, then gear up.
Example Sentence 2
When the approach became unstable the pilot immediately began the preplanned go-around sequence by adding full power and raising the nose.