The Go-Around Dilemma: Fixing a Dangerous Training Gap

Oct 17, 2025

There’s one maneuver that’s been quietly fading from helicopter training — and it’s one that can save lives.

We’re talking about the go-around.

Over the last 30 check-rides, Kenny’s seen pilots come from every corner of the country — some with solid control, others pushing approaches they should’ve abandoned 10 seconds earlier. The go-around is a simple, powerful maneuver… but for some reason, it’s becoming rare.

And that’s the problem.


🚁 Why Go-Arounds Matter More Than Ever

A go-around isn’t failure — it’s a decision. It’s what separates a confident pilot from a careless one.

When you’re coming in too fast, not in trim, or the approach just doesn’t feel right — that’s when you make the call. But too many pilots freeze up, trying to “make it work.” They chase the landing instead of resetting.

Kenny sees it over and over again: the setup’s wrong, the descent’s steep, and the pilot keeps forcing it.

A go-around shows judgment. It’s the moment that says, “I recognize this isn’t right, and I’m fixing it before it turns bad.”


⚠️ The Hidden Training Problem

Here’s the hard truth — the go-around isn’t being practiced enough.

Some instructors gloss over it. Others don’t stress it during training. And by the time pilots get to their check-ride, they haven’t built the muscle memory to recognize when to reset.

Kenny even praises students who make the call on their own during a check-ride — no prompting, no hint. Because that rare awareness? That’s what real-world flying is about.


🎯 When to Call the Go-Around

If any of this sounds familiar, remember the big three:

  • You’re coming in too hot.

  • You’re out of trim.

  • You’re not properly set up for the landing.

That’s when you need to go around — before it becomes a lesson in “what went wrong.”



🧭 Where Pilots Learn to Think Like Pros

The Final Approach Course (FAC) was built for pilots exactly like this — those ready to finish strong, sharpen judgment, and finally pass that check-ride.

At H.O.G.S., we don’t just teach you to pass a maneuver — we teach you to think like a pilot.
The kind that’s not afraid to make the right call, even if it means resetting.
👉 Learn more: www.FinalApproachCourse.com
📲 Email Heather for openings: [email protected]