Definition
An integrated airborne system that automatically flies the aircraft through the final approach, flare, touchdown, and (in some installations) rollout phases of landing without the pilot manually controlling the flight controls. It uses the autopilot, autothrottle, flight director, and precision guidance signals (typically an ILS Category II or III) to control pitch, roll, yaw, and thrust down to and onto the runway.
Plain English
A system that lands the airplane by itself, using the autopilot and ground-based guidance signals to fly it down to the runway and put it on the ground.
Context Anchor
Seen in transport-category and advanced aircraft operations, especially during low-visibility approaches and landings.
Derivation
From 'auto' (Greek autos, meaning self) and 'land' (to bring down onto the ground). Together: the airplane lands itself.
Why Pilots Care
Enables safe landings in weather conditions below normal visual minima and reduces pilot workload during high-precision approaches.
Intuition Check
Do not read “autoland” as “the airplane handles everything and the pilots do nothing.” It means the system can control the landing under specific approved conditions while the pilots actively manage and monitor it.
Example Sentence 1
Because the fog had reduced visibility below approach minimums, the crew briefed and flew an autoland into the destination airport.
Example Sentence 2
During the approach briefing the crew confirmed the runway was equipped for autoland before engaging the system in the low-visibility conditions.