Definition
The length of runway that is declared available and suitable for the ground run of an aeroplane landing, as published by the aerodrome authority under ICAO standards.
Plain English
The portion of the runway you are officially allowed to use for touchdown and stopping when landing.
Context Anchor
Seen in runway data, airport information, performance planning, and declared-distance discussions.
Derivation
Plain English. 'Available' here means 'declared as usable' by the airport authority, not just 'physically present.' The number can be shorter than the full paved surface if part of the runway is reserved for other purposes such as takeoff roll only.
Why Pilots Care
It sets the limit for safe landing performance calculations and determines whether the runway meets the aircraft's stopping distance needs under current conditions.
Grounding Statement
If part of a runway cannot be counted for landing, the Landing Distance Available may be shorter than the runway’s full paved length.
Intuition Check
Do not assume “available” means the entire visible runway. In this term, it means the length officially declared usable for the landing roll.
Example Sentence 1
Before descent, the captain checked that the LDA at the destination was sufficient for a wet-runway landing at the planned weight.
Example Sentence 2
A tailwind increased the required landing distance beyond the landing distance available, so the crew chose an alternate runway.