Do pilots use TO/GA in real life?

Question

On the PMDG 737 & 747, it indicates us to increase the N1 power to 70%, let the engines stabilise, then enable TO/GA mode.

But, the videos I've seen, and the flights I've been on, I'm pretty sure I've seen them all increase to full thrust. So is it used at all in real-life?

Answer 1

I think you are asking whether we push the thrust levers forward, wait a second, then continue the push.  Yes, we do that on takeoff.  Push the levers about halfway up, wait a second, then push them full forward to the detent.

The TO/GA is actually not really all that relevant to this discussion.  Yes, it tells the FADEC that you are in takeoff or go-around mode rather than landing mode, but it will schedule whatever power you ask from it, so its not particularly important to the engine itself.  More importantly, the TO/GA switch tells the navigation computer what you are doing.

On takeoff it initializes the position.  If you tell your FMS you are departing runway 36, pressing the TO/GA button tells your FMS "I am on the threshold of runway 36 right now".  That is important because the FMS constantly checks its position against multiple forms of navigation in order to determine which is the most accurate.  It also starts the auto-sequencing that happens when you pass over a waypoint, telling the FMS to begin point-to-point navigation.

On a go-around, pressing the TO/GA button simply tells the FMS that you are doing a missed approach and it should sequence to the missed approach procedure rather than anticipating a landing.  It will load the Missed approach, sequence the previous approach behind you, and begin navigation to the missed approach fix as detailed in the procedure.

Answer 2

No max thrust is not always used for take off. Twin engines planes also have a engine out reserve.

Answer 3

duh

Answer 4

Your question doesn't make sense and i think it's because you dont quite understand how the thrust is derated. You see we always use TO/GA when we take off, in fact the 'TO' in 'TO/GA' literally means Take Off. The thrust levers will advance to the firewall but the thrust you receive will be whatever electronically derated thrust you have selected and is almost always not the full thrust available.