Definition
The time an aircraft touches down on the runway at the destination airport. Used by ATC and flight planning systems as the official end point of a flight for tracking, separation, and flow management purposes.
Plain English
The exact time the aircraft's wheels touch the runway at the destination. It marks the end of the flight in ATC and flight planning records.
Context Anchor
Seen in flight tracking, flight plan records, and air traffic or airport records when the actual landing time matters.
Derivation
Arrival comes from Latin 'ad ripam' meaning to come to shore or reach a destination; time comes from Old English 'tima' meaning a measured period. Together they mark the endpoint of a flight's journey.
Why Pilots Care
Accurate arrival time is used for fuel calculations, passenger connections, crew duty limits, and sequencing into busy airports.
Intuition Check
Do not assume Arrival TIME means the time you reach the gate, ramp, or parking spot. In this FAA glossary sense, it means the time the aircraft touches down.
Example Sentence 1
The pilot reported an arrival time of 14:32 local after touchdown on Runway 27.
Example Sentence 2
ATC adjusted the arrival time because of a change in wind that slowed the final approach.