In a go-around or balked landing climb, after full power is applied and a safe altitude is reached, to what flap setting should the flaps be reduced?

In a go-around or balked landing climb, after full power is applied and a safe altitude is reached, to what flap setting should the flaps be reduced?

• A. 20°
• B. 10°
• C. 30°
• D. 40°

Answer: (A)

When you’re going around or balking a landing, you need to transition from fighting the drag of full flaps to a clean, efficient climb. After power is set and you’ve reached a safe altitude, you want enough lift to maintain a positive rate of climb but less drag than with full flaps. Dropping to twenty degrees gives that balance: it reduces the heavy drag of full flaps enough to improve climb performance and speed control, while still keeping enough lift for a stable climb. Going to zero too soon can leave you with insufficient lift at your current airspeed, risking a stall or a sluggish climb, and staying at full flaps too long maintains unnecessary drag and slows you down. Once you’re safely established in the climb, you continue retracting flaps toward a clean configuration as speed and conditions allow.

When you’re going around or balking a landing, you need to transition from fighting the drag of full flaps to a clean, efficient climb. After power is set and you’ve reached a safe altitude, you want enough lift to maintain a positive rate of climb but less drag than with full flaps. Dropping to twenty degrees gives that balance: it reduces the heavy drag of full flaps enough to improve climb performance and speed control, while still keeping enough lift for a stable climb. Going to zero too soon can leave you with insufficient lift at your current airspeed, risking a stall or a sluggish climb, and staying at full flaps too long maintains unnecessary drag and slows you down. Once you’re safely established in the climb, you continue retracting flaps toward a clean configuration as speed and conditions allow.