The Sierra Pattern is not just a pilot maneuver; it is a contract with Air Traffic Control.
When you call "Going around, Sierra Pattern" (or simply "Go-around" if it's standard procedure), ATC expects specific spacing.
Standard Radio Calls:
Note: If ATC asks you to "Extend your upwind," do not fly the Sierra. Fly straight. The Sierra Pattern is a closed pattern for immediate re-entry. If the airport is busy, ATC may vector you away for spacing, in which case you discard the Sierra and follow radar vectors. sierra pattern a320
If you have ever sat in the window seat of an Airbus A320, watching the winglets slice through the clouds, you probably didn't realize that the aircraft was constantly talking about you. Not through the intercom, but through a silent, invisible language knitted into the sky.
In the world of Air Traffic Control (ATC) and avionics, "Sierra" is the phonetic code for the letter S. On the A320, one of the most critical "Sierra" patterns isn't painted on the fuselage; it is the Squawk Code.
Most A320 pilots are taught: "Dual engine failure? Start the APU immediately." The Sierra Pattern is not just a pilot
This is correct, but there is a trap. Starting the APU draws massive current from the emergency batteries. If you attempt an APU start while also cycling the engine master switches for a windmill restart, you can drain the batteries below 20 volts. At that point, the FADECs and the flight control computers (ELAC/SEC) reboot or fail.
The Sierra Pattern implicitly assumes the APU start has failed. If the APU starts successfully (by FL 250), you don't need the Sierra Pattern—you have electrical power and can attempt a normal engine start. The Sierra Pattern is for the scenario after the APU fails to start.
In the world of commercial aviation, few events trigger an immediate, high-stakes response like a dual-engine flameout. Suddenly, a sophisticated jetliner becomes a heavy glider. For pilots of the Airbus A320, the memory aid for handling this precise emergency is the "Sierra Pattern." While not a secret, it is a rarely-discussed, high-angle, high-risk maneuver that lives in the deepest files of the Flight Crew Operating Manual (FCOM). Note: If ATC asks you to "Extend your
This article deconstructs the Sierra Pattern: what it is, why it exists, the physics of unpowered flight in an A320, and the terrifyingly narrow window of success it provides.
You are on short final into Innsbruck (LOWI) RWY 26. At 200’ RA, you encounter severe windshear. The PNF calls "GO AROUND – TO/GA."
Your response:
To understand the Sierra Pattern, you must contrast it with the Echo Pattern.
In short: Echo is manual; Sierra is managed.