Definition
The set of cockpit tasks a pilot completes during the descent and approach phase to ready the aircraft, the crew, and themselves for landing. It includes reviewing the destination weather and runway in use, briefing the approach and landing, configuring the aircraft (gear, flaps, speeds), running the descent and before-landing checklists, and tuning navigation and communication frequencies for the arrival.
Plain English
Everything a pilot does on the way down to get ready to land — checking the weather, setting up the aircraft, running the checklists, and making the radio calls — so that touchdown is the calm result of a planned sequence, not a rushed scramble.
Context Anchor
Used during descent, before entering the airport area, and anytime an instructor discusses managing workload before landing.
Why Pilots Care
Completing landing preparation early prevents task saturation during the high-workload landing phase and reduces the chance of errors close to the ground.
Grounding Statement
The main idea is to handle the thinking and setup early, before the aircraft is low and the pilot’s attention is needed outside.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as only the act of touching down. In this context, landing preparation means the readying steps completed before the landing itself.
Example Sentence 1
She began landing preparation early, briefing the approach and reviewing the airport diagram before starting the descent.
Example Sentence 2
Good landing preparation let the student focus on flying the pattern without rushing through procedures.