Of all the maneuvers you will learn during your primary flight training, the touch and go will be the one you practice most often. [FLYING file photo]
Key Takeaways:
The touch-and-go is a frequently practiced flight maneuver involving a rapid transition from landing to immediate takeoff.
It is complex and carries risks, as multiple tasks (power, control, lift-off, flap retraction, trim) occur quickly, with potential for incidents like runway excursions or settling if not executed precisely.
Specific dangers include improper or simultaneous retraction of flaps and landing gear, particularly in retractable-gear aircraft, which can cause increased drag and lead to the aircraft settling back onto the runway.
Safe instruction emphasizes controlled cleanup, sequential gear and flap retraction (e.g., verbalizing "gear up and locked" and "positive rate of climb" before flaps), and often uses altitude-based "faux pattern" drills to practice the go-around procedure safely.
Of all the maneuvers you will learn during your primary flight training, the touch and go will be the one you practice most often.
The touch and go is a variation on a normal landing. Instead of bringing the aircraft to a complete stop, after the aircraft touches down, you add full power to takeoff. It is sort of a modified go-around.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
