Definition
A training maneuver in which an aircraft lands on a runway, briefly rolls along it while the pilot reconfigures the aircraft for takeoff, and then departs again without coming to a full stop. Used to practice multiple landings and takeoffs in a single traffic pattern session.
Plain English
The pilot lands the airplane, keeps it rolling on the runway while resetting flaps and power, and then takes off again without stopping. It lets a student practice many landings in a short time.
Context Anchor
Seen in training schedules, airport communications, and flight plans when repeated landing practice is being described.
Derivation
The phrase describes the action literally: the aircraft 'touches' the runway with its wheels and then 'goes' back into the air. It is named for what the airplane physically does.
Why Pilots Care
Lets a student or pilot practice many landings and takeoffs in one session, building skill efficiently while conserving time and fuel.
Intuition Check
Do not read touch-and-go as a normal landing that ends on the runway. In aviation, it means the aircraft touches down and then continues into another takeoff without stopping.
Example Sentence 1
The student requested closed traffic for touch-and-go landings to practice her pattern work.
Example Sentence 2
Touch-and-go landings are listed as a required maneuver in the private pilot practical test standards.