Mastering Touch-and-Go Landings: A Step-by-Step Guide

Mastering Touch-and-Go Landings: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Touch-and-go landings are a common practice for pilots, involving an aircraft that lands and departs from a runway without stopping or exiting the runway. Unlike many other flight operations, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not provide specific, formal guidance on how to fly touch-and-go landings in its official publications.

During a touch-and-go landing, pilots use the same procedures as a normal landing but must quickly reconfigure the aircraft for takeoff while still rolling on the runway. This transition requires careful planning and execution, as the FAA does not require takeoff and landing performance to be calculated for touch-and-go operations, leaving it up to the pilot to assess if conditions are safe.

To ensure safety, it's essential to maintain directional control on the ground, as a slight distraction can lead to a loss of control. As the plane slows, control surfaces become less effective, and pilots must maintain control using their feet and hands.

After a safe touchdown, pilots must reconfigure the airplane for takeoff according to the plane's Power of Handbook (POH). This includes raising the flaps to the takeoff position, trimming the airplane for takeoff, and turning off carburetor heat if the airplane requires it to be on during landing.

It's crucial to have a rejected-takeoff point, such as a taxiway or a designated point on the runway, in case the takeoff needs to be aborted. Pilots should also communicate their intentions to tower or to other airplanes at non-towered airports.

Touch-and-go landings should not be attempted on short runways, contaminated runways, runways with tailwinds, extremely soft-fields, or runways with obstacles at the end. Instead, pilots may consider flying a stop-and-go landing or a full-stop taxi back.

At high-density altitude airports, pilots should ensure they have a long runway and a strict "reject" point for touch-go practice. Most Certified Flight Instructors (CFIs) wait to teach students touch-and-go landings until the student is comfortable with managing multiple tasks during landing.

For those looking to improve their landing skills, The Boldmethod offers an online course, Mastering Takeoffs and Landings, for a cost less than a flight lesson. This course provides valuable insights and techniques for mastering touch-and-go landings and other landing scenarios.

In summary, touch-and-go landings rely on pilot judgment with minimal specific FAA guidance, emphasizing safe conditions and a quick transition from landing to takeoff configuration. Pilots must carefully assess conditions, maintain control during the landing and takeoff, and follow best practices to ensure a safe and efficient touch-and-go landing.

[1] Federal Aviation Administration, Airplane Flying Handbook.

1. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not offer specific guidance on flying touch-and-go landings in its official publications, such as the Airplane Flying Handbook.
2. Pilots must reconfigure the aircraft for takeoff while still rolling on the runway during a touch-and-go landing, requiring careful planning and execution.
3. The FAA does not require takeoff and landing performance to be calculated for touch-and-go operations, leaving it up to the pilot to assess if conditions are safe.
4. To maintain directional control during a touch-and-go landing, pilots must be alert and focused, as a slight distraction can lead to a loss of control.
5. After a safe touchdown, pilots must reconfigure the airplane for takeoff according to the plane's Power of Handbook (POH), which includes raising flaps and trimming the airplane.
6. Pilots should have a rejected-takeoff point, such as a taxiway or a designated point on the runway, in case the takeoff needs to be aborted during a touch-and-go landing.
7. Touch-and-go landings should not be attempted on short runways, contaminated runways, runways with tailwinds, extreme soft-fields, or runways with obstacles at the end.
8. At high-density altitude airports, pilots must ensure they have a long runway and a strict "reject" point for touch-and-go practice, and most Certified Flight Instructors (CFIs) wait to teach students touch-and-go landings until they are comfortable with managing multiple tasks.
9. For pilots looking to improve their landing skills, The Boldmethod offers an online course, Mastering Takeoffs and Landings, which provides valuable insights and techniques for mastering touch-and-go landings and other landing scenarios.
10. Pilots must follow best practices to ensure a safe and efficient touch-and-go landing, emphasizing careful assessments of conditions, a quick transition from landing to takeoff configuration, and maintaining control during both stages of the operation.

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