Definition
An autopilot and autothrottle mode, selected by pressing the TO/GA button (usually on the throttle levers), that commands takeoff or go-around thrust and pitches the aircraft to a preset climb attitude. When engaged on takeoff, it sets takeoff thrust and provides flight director guidance for the initial climb. When engaged during an approach, it sets go-around thrust, transitions the aircraft into a missed approach climb, and disengages approach modes such as glideslope and localizer tracking.
Plain English
A single button that tells the aircraft's autopilot and autothrottles to either get airborne on takeoff or abandon the approach and climb away. Pressing it sets the right power and points the nose up to a safe climb angle.
Context Anchor
Seen in autopilot, flight director, and autothrottle mode discussions, especially during takeoff setup, missed approaches, and go-arounds.
Derivation
TO/GA combines “takeoff” with “go-around.” In aviation, a go-around means stopping the landing attempt and climbing away to try again or follow the published missed-approach instructions.
Why Pilots Care
It delivers immediate, standardized power and pitch response at the busiest and most critical moments of flight, lowering workload and reducing the chance of improper climb performance.
Intuition Check
“Go-around” does not mean casually circling around the airport. Here it means abandoning the landing or approach and climbing away under a specific procedure.
Example Sentence 1
On the missed approach, the captain pressed TO/GA, the engines spooled up, and the flight director commanded a climb pitch attitude.
Example Sentence 2
On takeoff the crew engaged TO/GA to ensure the autopilot captured the correct pitch and power settings for the departure.