B777-300
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 160; Flight Crew Total 21600; Flight Crew Type 665
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Ground Incursion Runway
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Human Factors
At approximately 20 feet on a visual ILS landing to Runway XXR; tower control said; 'Aircraft X go-around.' As our main gear began to touch the runway; a go-around was performed. We asked for the reason and tower explained there was a vehicle on the runway. We climbed initially to 4;000 feet on the published missed approach and then we were given a climb to 5;000 feet as well as vectors for a left downwind and base to Runway XXL for a visual approach and landing to a full stop. This flight was leg 4 of an OE training for me and I was being monitored by a Check Captain.
Recently I was performing a QC Check on one of our LCA's who was giving OE to a new Captain; from the second observer's seat. This was a nice weather morning landing in ZZZ; Visual with ILS backup. The student Captain was about to touchdown and the rear axle touched down nicely and the middle and forward axles either were about to touch; when ATC directed our flight number to go around. I heard it from the second observer's seat; and was ready to verbalize when after a slight hesitation; to probably process; the LCA started the thrust application for the go around maneuver. By that time the air/ground switch most likely went to zero tilt and ground mode; from my position I did not have a clear view of the LCA moving the throttles; but felt the acceleration; then the go around profile; which was flown well. The interesting part became the debrief after the subsequent landing; and a good debrief with all crew members including myself from my limited view. Startle factor definitely played into the event; and with a quick scan both from information on final and touchdown; there was no identified crossing air traffic on the 1's conflicting with our landing on XXR. The Tower Controller provided a brief explanation on the balked landing/go around; while I believed I understood the information they were providing; it was not ATC controller phraseology; but it generally identified the threat; as a ground vehicle from a group of workers; working on taxiway lights; that had parked/driver near/on the hold line for XXR; and caused an alarm in the Tower; most likely from the Runway Safety Light System or the ground radar; and the subsequent go around occurrence. On the subsequent landing rollout the men and equipment working; were visible; as we landed and cleared XXL. While they were not on the runway; they apparently fouled the runway environment warning system; and alarmed the Local. After parking and the post flight debrief; much credit to our LCA; as similar to this xx article; either TOGA switch was not pushed; but it most likely would not have been automatically available as described in the Flight Manual Warning; the Caution; and the Rejected Landing procedure with the associated warnings and cautions. In this case the LCA correctly manually pushed the power up at the base of the throttles to provide energy back to the aircraft and the go around mode inputs from the Captain student who was the Pilot Flying. Well done by the LCA!
Pilots reported going around due to a vehicle in close proximity to a runway; and then overshooting the assigned altitude by 100 feet.