Definition
The horizontal distances an airplane travels along the runway surface during the takeoff or landing phase, measured from the start of the takeoff roll to the point of liftoff, or from touchdown to the point where the airplane comes to a complete stop. Ground roll distances are published in the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) or Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) performance charts and vary with weight, density altitude, wind, runway surface, and runway slope.
Plain English
How far the airplane rolls along the runway -- either from the start of the takeoff run until the wheels leave the ground, or from touchdown until it stops.
Context Anchor
Seen during takeoff planning, especially when checking whether the available runway is long enough for the airplane and current conditions.
Derivation
The phrase comes from the airplane rolling on its wheels along the ground before it flies. That helps separate this distance from the part of the takeoff that happens after the wheels leave the runway.
Why Pilots Care
It tells the pilot whether the available runway is long enough for a safe takeoff under current conditions.
Grounding Statement
Before the airplane flies, it must accelerate while rolling on the runway; that runway length is the ground roll distance.
Intuition Check
Do not read ground roll distance as the full space needed for takeoff. It ends when the wheels leave the runway; total takeoff distance continues beyond that point.
Example Sentence 1
On a hot day at a high-elevation airport, the takeoff ground roll distance was nearly double the sea-level figure, so the pilot recalculated before departure.
Example Sentence 2
Higher density altitude increased the ground roll distances required for the same airplane and weight.