Definition
The segment of the airport traffic pattern flown directly toward the runway, aligned with the runway centerline, beginning after the turn from base leg and ending at touchdown. During this segment the airplane is descending on the final descent path with landing configuration set, and it is the last leg before landing.
Plain English
The straight-in part of the traffic pattern, lined up with the runway, that ends at landing. You've completed your turns around the pattern and are now flying directly at the runway and descending to touch down.
Context Anchor
Used when describing the airport traffic pattern and the last part of the flight path before landing.
Derivation
"Final" means "last" (from Latin finalis, "of the end"). "Approach" means moving toward something. "Leg" is a single straight section of a route. So a final approach leg is literally the last straight section of the path approaching the runway.
Why Pilots Care
Proper execution keeps the airplane aligned and stabilized for a safe touchdown; errors here often lead to go-arounds or runway excursions.
Intuition Check
Do not read final as just “near the end” in a loose sense. In a traffic pattern, the final approach leg is a specific straight path lined up with the runway for landing.
Example Sentence 1
After turning from base, the pilot rolled out on the final approach leg, aligned with the runway centerline, and continued the descent to landing.
Example Sentence 2
The student adjusted power and pitch to hold the correct descent rate while flying the final approach leg.