Take-off/Go-Around (TO/GA) is an autopilot/autothrottle setting that activates take-off or go-around thrust. A take-off/go-around switch is a switch on modern large aircraft autothrottles with two modes: take-off (TO) and go-around (GA), and the same switch serves both functions. When pressed, the dual-function TO/GA switch signals the autothrottles and flight director to send take-off thrust and guidance on the runway or go-around thrust and guidance on approach. Pushing the TOGA button engages Take-Off/Go-Around mode, which is used whenever an approach becomes unstable or environmental conditions preclude a certified approach and landing.
Expert behind this article
Jim Goodrich
Jim Goodrich is a pilot, aviation expert and founder of Tsunami Air.
What is TO/GA in aviation?
Take-off/Go Around (TO/GA) is an autopilot/autothrottle setting activating take-off or go-around thrust. TO/GA may be activated by depressing a switch or by manually moving the thrust levers to the appropriate position. When the switch is pressed, it will activate the go-around mode of the autothrottle, which increases thrust to full (100+% N1).
TOGA names both a switch on the autothrottle of modern large aircraft and the maximum-thrust setting invoked by that switch. The switch has two modes: takeoff (TO) and go-around (GA). When the crew presses the TO/GA switch on the thrust levers, the autothrottle advances the engines to maximum available thrust and the flight director commands a climb on the current heading, producing maximum lift and minimum drag by automatically retracting any extended speed brakes.
The same TO/GA detent can be selected manually. Advancing the thrust levers to that position orders full power and disengages approach mode. If the switch is pressed a second time during a go-around, thrust increases to full go-around power. On the Primary Flight Display, TOGA appears in the Flight Mode Annunciator and, when thrust is locked, the annunciation TOGA LK is shown.
