The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word TAXIWAY
T
A
X
I
W
A
Y
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "To get off the ground, you must leave this" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case to get off the ground, you must leave this = taxiway.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does TAXIWAY mean?
TAXIWAY noun- A road or path within an airport designated for the taxiing of aircraft connecting the runways with ramps, hangars, terminals and other facilities.