What this profile covers
The operator-defined gates and conditions used to judge whether path, speed, configuration, thrust, and crew readiness support safe continuation.
Why it matters
Approach and landing concentrate configuration, weather, automation, runway, monitoring, and go-around decisions into a short period. For stabilized approach criteria, useful analysis connects the immediate event with exposure, defenses, recurrence, and the wider operating system rather than treating one observation as a final conclusion.
Approach planning, path and energy control, landing contact, and runway-margin protection.
Understand the subject before interpreting a signal.
In plain language, this profile examines the operator-defined gates and conditions used to judge whether path, speed, configuration, thrust, and crew readiness support safe continuation.
Build a multi-source picture
- Multi-parameter approach and landing flight data
- Weather, wind, runway, and procedure information
- Crew reports and relevant ATC records
- Operator criteria and aircraft-specific approved data
Timing, relationships, and recurrence
Relevant recorded context may include radio altitude, vertical speed, calibrated airspeed, pitch attitude, roll angle. Use validated mappings and examine signal relationships over the applicable flight phase.
Do not turn an observation into a conclusion
A gate exceedance or touchdown value is a screening observation, not by itself a causal finding, handling judgement, maintenance determination, or universal definition.
Keep controlling material visible
Apply the current approved manuals, procedures, authority requirements, investigation evidence, and validated organizational definitions for any operational decision.
Radio altitude
Height derived from radio altimetry, normally representing the distance from the aircraft to terrain directly below within the system's operating range.
Open parameter guide ↗ft/min or m/sVertical speed
The aircraft's vertical rate. Different recorded sources and smoothing can produce materially different values, especially during flare and touchdown.
Open parameter guide ↗ktCalibrated airspeed
Indicated airspeed corrected for instrument and position error, as provided by the aircraft data system.
Open parameter guide ↗degPitch attitude
Aircraft body attitude above or below the local horizontal reference.
Open parameter guide ↗degRoll angle
Aircraft bank attitude about the longitudinal axis.
Open parameter guide ↗% / ratio / aircraft-specificEngine thrust
One or more recorded measures of commanded or produced propulsion; the correct signal depends on engine and aircraft type.
Open parameter guide ↗deg or discreteGround spoiler position
Position or deployment state of panels used to reduce lift and increase wheel loading after touchdown.
Open parameter guide ↗discrete or %Thrust reverser status
Command and/or physical deployment state for reverse thrust, depending on recorded signal availability.
Open parameter guide ↗From a broad topic to a defensible safety review.
Define
State what stabilized approach criteria means for the aircraft, operation, authority, and organization in scope.
Verify
Confirm the provenance, quality, timing, units, completeness, and limitations of every data source used.
Describe
Reconstruct what happened and quantify relevant exposure before discussing causes or corrective action.
Corroborate
Compare flight data with reports, operational context, technical evidence, and authoritative source material.
Test barriers
Identify which preventive, recovery, and consequence-mitigation controls should have worked and how their performance can be measured.
Assure
Assign proportionate action and verify whether the control and safety performance improve without harmful unintended effects.
Questions before conclusions
- Q1
How is stabilized approach criteria defined for the aircraft, operation, authority, and organization being reviewed?
- Q2
Which precursors, recorded signals, reports, and external data would confirm the event and describe its context?
- Q3
Which preventive, recovery, and consequence-reduction barriers should work, and where could they weaken?
- Q4
What does recurrence, exposure, severity potential, or change over time show before choosing a safety action?
8 connected event profiles
These are terminology and family connections for exploration—not claims that FDM alone can determine the topic.
Low-energy descent
Speed, thrust, and flight-path state indicate reduced energy margin during descent or arrival manoeuvring.
Open FDM profile ↗FDM-092 · Go-around & systemsGo-around after touchdown
A go-around or rejected-landing sequence begins after one or more recorded ground contacts.
Open FDM profile ↗FDM-095 · Go-around & systemsExcessive pitch during go-around
Pitch attitude or pitch rate exceeds the aircraft- and configuration-specific monitoring context during go-around.
Open FDM profile ↗FDM-096 · Go-around & systemsExcessive bank during go-around
Bank angle exceeds a validated low-height go-around or missed-approach monitoring condition.
Open FDM profile ↗FDM-097 · Go-around & systemsGo-around flap-sequence anomaly
Flap or slat retraction timing, sequence, or position differs from the validated go-around configuration process.
Open FDM profile ↗FDM-098 · Go-around & systemsGear retraction at low height during go-around
Gear-retraction command or movement occurs within a low-height or uncertain-climb context selected for monitoring.
Open FDM profile ↗FDM-099 · Go-around & systemsGo-around altitude or path deviation
Altitude, vertical path, heading, or lateral track departs from the validated missed-approach or clearance reference.
Open FDM profile ↗FDM-100 · Go-around & systemsGo-around automation-mode mismatch
Recorded armed or active autoflight modes and aircraft response differ from the expected go-around sequence.
Open FDM profile ↗Go deeper into the closest ASIP research guides.
Hard Landing
A structured guide to recognizing, reporting, analyzing, and responding to a suspected touchdown load exceedance without confusing passenger perception with an engineering determination.
Open intelligence brief ↗Flight OperationsUnstable Approach
Recognize when path, speed, configuration, power, or crew readiness has moved outside applicable stabilized-approach criteria.
Open intelligence brief ↗Flight OperationsGo-Around Decision and Execution
Treat the go-around as both a normal safety decision and a manoeuvre whose mode, thrust, configuration, path, and workload must be monitored.
Open intelligence brief ↗Flight OperationsLanding Performance
Connect approved landing-distance data with current wind, runway condition, aircraft state, touchdown point, and deceleration technique.
Open intelligence brief ↗12 useful starting points
Original ASIP summaries lead to publisher pages. ASIP does not copy or host the reports.
Safety Alert SA-077 — Stabilized Approaches Lead to Safe Landings
The NTSB alert highlights the need to establish and maintain a stabilized approach and to go around when an approach falls outside applicable criteria.
Open official sourceFlying a Go-Around Managing Energy
Official Airbus Safety First material indexed for aviation safety. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceGo-Around Decision-Making and Execution Project — Final Report
The Flight Safety Foundation project examines go-around policy compliance, decision biases, operational pressures, and the risks that also need to be managed during go-around execution.
Open official sourceSAFO 21006 — SAFO 21006, Boeing Model 757 and 767 Airplane Inadvertent Pilot Activation of Go-Around Mode
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for aviation safety. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 15004 — SAFO 15004, Scenario-Based Go-Around Training
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for human factors. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 10005 — Go-Around Callout and Immediate Response
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for aviation safety. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceAutomatic NAV engagement at Go-around
Official Airbus Safety First material indexed for aviation safety. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceGo-around handling
Official Airbus Safety First material indexed for ground operations. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceGo-Arounds at Addis Ababa due VOR Reception Problems
Official Airbus Safety First material indexed for aviation safety. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceIntroduction to the Soft Go-Around Function
Official Airbus Safety First material indexed for aviation safety. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceNon-Engagement of the Go-Around Modes in CLEAN Flaps Configuration
Official Airbus Safety First material indexed for maintenance. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourcePreventing Tailstrike During Go-around Near the Ground
Official Airbus Safety First material indexed for ground operations. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceCommon Taxonomy Team
International work on common aviation occurrence categories and definitions for consistent reporting and analysis.
Open referenceSafety Risk Management
European safety-risk process connecting data, safety issues, risk portfolios, priorities, and safety action.
Open referenceAnnual programmes and reports
Annual safety reviews and risk portfolios used to identify key risk areas, safety issues, and emerging issues.
Open referenceEuropean Plan for Aviation Safety 2025
A broad evidence-based portfolio showing the scale and connected nature of current aviation safety issues.
Open referenceOperational issues index
A practical discovery index for operational safety subjects; official authority and manufacturer sources remain controlling where applicable.
Open reference