On Tue, 5 Aug 2008 08:03:18 +1000, "Sr20goer"
live.com.au> wrote:

Hi Brian,

In my experience I have seen a lot more pilot initiated go arounds
than ATC initiated go arounds. WX related (pilot initiated) go arounds
would top the list by far. I'm excluding pilot initiated go
arounds/overshoots for training purposes from the comparison.

The only ATC initiated go arounds I recall were because of;

a. A departing aircraft, who had been asked for and agreed to an
"immediate departure", not comply with that agreement.

b. A preceding landing aircraft taking an abnormally long time to
vacate the RWY. In the Ansett/TAA days when competition was so intense
I saw this occurrence happen a few times, I suspect it was deliberate
by the preceding aircraft.

c. An un-authorised entry into the flight strip by a person/vehicle/
aircraft.

d. A vehicle, forgotten by ATC, not instructed to vacate the RWY prior
to the approaching aircraft receiving a landing clearance or an
aircraft incorrectly allowed to enter/cross the RWY.

e. An preceding aircraft becoming disabled on the RWY or the RWY
becoming unserviceable for some other reason.

In other circumstances such as severe weather conditions, intense bird
activity etc, ATC should advise the PIC and the PIC would make the
decision to continue or abort the approach.

I'm sure there are other scenarios in which ATC could send an aircraft
around but they do not spring to mind at the moment.

The situations described in a-e above are rare and are way outnumbered
by PIC initiated go arounds, mainly due to Wx, in my experience.

Back when ATC also had Operational Control ATC could, under some
circumstances, deny an aircraft a clearance to land, but that was a
very long time ago and only in extreme circumstances.

Regards
Stephen