In aviation

Aviation

Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...

, a touch-and-go landing or circuit is a manoeuvre that is common when learning to fly a fixed-wing aircraft

Fixed-wing aircraft

A fixed-wing aircraft is an aircraft capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed mast and ornithopters in which lift is generated by flapping wings.A powered...

, although there is some debate as to whether there is much benefit. It involves landing on a runway

Runway

According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...

 and taking off

Takeoff

Takeoff is the phase of flight in which an aerospace vehicle goes from the ground to flying in the air.For horizontal takeoff aircraft this usually involves starting with a transition from moving along the ground on a runway. For balloons, helicopters and some specialized fixed-wing aircraft , no...

 again without coming to a full stop. Usually the pilot then circles the airport

Airport

An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...

 in a defined pattern known as a circuit

Airfield traffic pattern

An airfield traffic pattern is a standard path followed by aircraft when taking off or landing, while maintaining visual contact with the airfield....

 and repeats the manoeuvre. This allows many landings to be practised in a short time. It can also describe a maneuver used to test questionable landing surfaces.

If the pilot brings the aircraft to a full stop before taking off again then it is known as a "stop-and-go".

In British parlance this maneuver is called "circuits and bumps".

Standard procedure

The standard circuit begins with a roll down the runway

Runway

According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...

 until the aircraft rotates, a climb

Climb

thumb|right|An [[Embraer ERJ 145]] climbingIn aviation, the term climb refers both to the actual operation of increasing the altitude of an aircraft and to the logical phase of a typical flight following take-off and preceding the cruise, during which an increase in altitude to a predetermined...

 out to TPA (traffic pattern

Airfield traffic pattern

An airfield traffic pattern is a standard path followed by aircraft when taking off or landing, while maintaining visual contact with the airfield....

 altitude), a right or left climbing turn (depending on making either right hand or left hand circuits) to 500 feet above ground level

Above ground level

In aviation and atmospheric sciences, an altitude is said to be above ground level when it is measured with respect to the underlying ground surface. This is as opposed to above mean sea level , or in broadcast engineering, height above average terrain...

 perpendicular to the runway, continuing gaining altitude up to 1000 feet AGL, followed by another right or left turn for a downwind leg parallel to the runway, maintaining 1000 feet AGL. During the downwind leg the pilot completes pre-landing checks and contacts the control tower

Control tower

A control tower, or more specifically an Air Traffic Control Tower , is the name of the airport building from which the air traffic control unit controls the movement of aircraft on and around the airport. Control towers are also used to control the traffic for other forms of transportation such...

 advising a full stop landing or a touch-and-go. After seeing the threshold of the runway at 45 degrees behind him/her, the pilot makes another left or right turn descending to 500 feet AGL. The pilot then turns on the last leg, the final approach

Final approach (aviation)

A final approach is the last leg in an aircraft's approach to landing. In aviation radio terminology, it is often shortened to "final".In a standard airport landing pattern, which is usually used under visual meteorological conditions , aircraft turn from base leg to final within one to two miles...

 where clearance to land or for a touch-and-go is expected.

In an uncontrolled airport

Non-towered airport

A non-towered airport, sometimes referred to as an uncontrolled airport, is an airport with no operating tower, or air traffic control unit...

, the pilot announces position and intent over a UNICOM

UNICOM

Universal Communications or as known by its abbreviation, UNICOM, is an air-ground communication facility operated by a private agency to provide advisory service at uncontrolled aerodromes and airports.-Description:...

 or a CTAF radio frequency to coordinate the flow of local air traffic

Air Traffic

Air Traffic was a British alternative rock band from Bournemouth. Formed in 2003, the band consists of Chris Wall , David Ryan Jordan , Tom Pritchard and Jim Maddock ....

 between the pilots.

Debate over role in flight instruction

Some flight instructors believe touch-and-goes should not be so heavily used, if at all, with student pilots. They argue that it results in less attention being paid to learning to land properly, and thus creates safety problems. Neither the Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Aviation Administration

The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...

's Practical Test Standards

Practical Test Standards

Practical Test Standards or PTS are the guidelines used by FAA Safety Inspectors or Designated Pilot Examiners to determine the suitability of airmen to be issued an Airman Certificate by conducting a checkride. These Standards are published by the FAA and can be obtained from most pilot shops...

nor its Airplane Flying Handbook discuss touch-and-goes, they note.

Instructors who favor the use of touch-and-goes respond that it makes it possible to practice more landings per hour of instruction. Students doing touch-and-goes find it easier to master landing, particularly the final stage known as landing flare, which is often difficult to learn. Preparing to take off while landing is a necessary safety skill, they add, since any pilot must be able to do it in order to reject a landing.