Definition
The fixed spot on the runway at which the pilot visually targets the airplane's descent path during a stabilized approach. The aiming point is the location on the runway that appears stationary in the windscreen when the approach path is correct; it is not where the airplane actually touches down, since the airplane will float past it during the flare before touchdown.
Plain English
The spot on the runway you point the airplane at during the approach. If you are flying the approach correctly, that spot stays still in the windscreen — everything else seems to move around it. You will glide just past it as you flare and land.
Context Anchor
Used during final approach and stabilized approach discussions, especially when judging whether the airplane is on the correct path to the runway.
Derivation
Aiming comes from the idea of directing something toward a chosen mark. Point means a specific place. In aviation, the phrase helps because the pilot is not just looking at the runway in general; the pilot chooses one clear spot to guide the approach path.
Why Pilots Care
Maintaining the correct aiming point ensures touchdown occurs in the landing zone, avoiding runway overruns, undershoots, or hard landings.
Analogy
Like picking one fixed parking line to aim for when pulling into a tight spot so you know exactly where the car will stop.
Intuition Check
The aiming point is not necessarily where the wheels will touch down. It is the spot the airplane is aimed toward before the landing flare carries it to a touchdown point farther down the runway.
Example Sentence 1
On final, the instructor told her to pick an aiming point about 1,000 feet down the runway and keep it stationary in the windscreen.
Example Sentence 2
When the aiming point began moving up in the windscreen, the pilot added a small amount of power to correct the path.