Definition
An air traffic control procedure in which a landing aircraft is instructed to land and stop short of an intersecting runway, an intersecting taxiway, or some other designated point on the runway, in order to maintain separation from other traffic. The pilot must accept or decline the LAHSO clearance before crossing the runway threshold, and once accepted, is required to stop at or before the published hold-short point.
Plain English
It is an instruction from the tower telling a pilot to land and bring the aircraft to a stop before reaching a specific point on the runway, usually because another runway or taxiway crosses ahead.
Context Anchor
You may hear LAHSO in a landing clearance at a towered airport, especially when the airport is trying to keep traffic moving on intersecting runways.
Why Pilots Care
It improves runway efficiency and reduces delays while requiring pilots to confirm they can stop safely within the available distance.
Grounding Statement
Picture landing with a clear stop-before point on the runway, not simply rolling out as far as you want.
Intuition Check
Do not read “hold short” as just “be cautious” or “stay out of the way.” In LAHSO, it means come to a complete stop before the named point.
Example Sentence 1
Tower issued a LAHSO clearance on Runway 27, instructing us to hold short of Runway 33.
Example Sentence 2
We accepted the LAHSO clearance and stopped well before the hold-short line.