Missed approach is a maneuver conducted by a pilot when an instrument approach cannot be completed to a landing. Generally, if the pilot-in-command (or the pilot flying) determines by the time the aircraft is at the decision height (for a precision approach) or missed approach point (for a non-precision approach), that the runway or its environment is not in sight, or that a safe landing cannot be accomplished for any reason, the landing approach must be discontinued and the missed approach procedure must be initiated immediately. It is also common for pilots to deliberately execute a missed approach as part of initial or recurrent instrument training. In such cases a pilot may execute more than one instrument approach in a row with a missed approach between each one.
The missed approach procedure normally includes an initial heading or track to follow and altitude to climb to, typically followed by holding instructions at a nearby navigation fix. The pilot is expected to inform ATC by radio of the initiation of the missed approach as soon as possible. ATC may simply acknowledge the missed approach call, or modify the missed approach instructions, for example with vectors to some other fix. ATC may subsequently clear the flight for another approach attempt at the same airport or clear it to an alternate airport, depending on the pilot's intentions, as well as weather and traffic considerations.
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