Plain English Meaning
The speed the aircraft is moving through the air when its wheels first touch the runway.
Full Definition
The minimum safe airspeed at which an aircraft touches down during landing. For a given aircraft configuration, it is closely related to the stalling speed in the landing configuration (flaps and gear extended) and is typically a small margin above that stall speed.
Context Anchor
Seen in landing performance discussions, especially when estimating landing distance before choosing or using a runway.
Why Pilots Care
It directly influences the required landing distance and is a key factor in determining safe runway length for operations.