In a normal landing, the pilot flies the
traffic pattern and establishes the aircraft on
final approach. As the aircraft crosses the threshold of the runway the pilot executes the
landing flare, touches the aircraft down, and immediately applies braking,
ground spoilers, and (if available)
reverse thrust until the aircraft has decelerated enough to exit onto a taxiway. In a touch-and-go landing, after the wheels are down, the pilot does not apply the brakes but instead increases the engine power to full, partially retracts the flaps, accelerates back to rotation speed, and lifts off again. At a
towered airport, the pilot must receive ATC permission to perform a touch-and-go landing by requesting it by name or as "the option," which allows the pilot to perform a touch-and-go, stop-and-go, low approach, full-stop landing or go-around as desired. At a
non-towered airport, the pilot announces position and intent over the
CTAF or
UNICOM radio frequency to coordinate the flow of local
air traffic with any other pilots. ==Debate over role in flight instruction==