Definition
A landing error in which the airplane, having excess airspeed as it crosses the runway threshold, fails to settle onto the runway and instead continues to fly in ground effect just above the surface, consuming runway distance until enough energy dissipates for touchdown.
Plain English
The airplane comes in too fast, so instead of landing where the pilot wants, it keeps gliding a few feet above the runway until it slows down enough to actually touch down.
Context Anchor
Seen during glide approaches and landings, especially after the pilot levels the airplane just above the runway.
Derivation
From the everyday sense of 'floating' — staying suspended on a surface without sinking. Here the airplane is suspended just above the runway on the cushion of air created by ground effect, refusing to settle until it slows.
Why Pilots Care
Excessive floating moves the touchdown point far down the runway and can cause a runway overrun.
Grounding Statement
Picture the airplane a few feet above the runway, moving forward smoothly but not yet touching down.
Intuition Check
Floating does not mean the airplane is drifting like a balloon. Here it means the airplane is still flying just above the runway when the pilot expected it to land.
Example Sentence 1
He came across the fence ten knots fast and ended up floating halfway down the runway before the wheels finally touched.
Example Sentence 2
Reducing speed to the recommended glide speed before the flare helps prevent floating.