Yeah, we live under the small aircraft flight path for our local airport and you always know when it’s lunchtime because there is a flurry of activity (touch and go training) between 11:30 - 1:30.
Thank dog we’re not under the commercial flightpath. In CA, the majority of these appear to be near California State Universities. I went to another CSU up north and I remember my profs had to stop their lectures and wait until the national guard jets screamed past the university. Good times.
All pilots will fly touch and go flights as part of training, either to get a certain number of approaches or as part of a checkride. I often see commercial and military aircraft doing them at our small international airport.
Yes, that’s why I mentioned that the DoJ pilot probably doesn’t fly as frequently as a commercial pilot, who may to touch and go practice while working each day.
The FAA emphasizes the concept of “currency,” which refers to the frequency of your flying activities. To be current, you must meet specific experience requirements. For instance, to carry passengers, you must have logged at least three takeoffs and landings in the last 90 days. Similarly, instrument-rated pilots must have performed a certain number of approaches and holding patterns within the last six months.
It’s just funny that they fly from VA to AL to practice, but @Wayward mentioned that it’s a quieter airspace, so that makes a lot of sense.