Definition
The total weight of the aircraft at the moment it touches down, equal to the takeoff weight minus the fuel burned during the flight. It must remain at or below the maximum landing weight specified by the manufacturer.
Plain English
How much the aircraft weighs when it lands — the weight it left with, minus the fuel it used along the way.
Context Anchor
Seen in weight-and-balance and performance calculations, especially when checking that the aircraft will be within its allowed limits for landing.
Why Pilots Care
It determines the runway length needed to stop and the loads the landing gear must handle on touchdown.
Intuition Check
Do not read landing weight as the weight the airplane had when it took off. It means the weight at landing, after some fuel has usually been used.
Example Sentence 1
After a three-hour cross-country, the aircraft's landing weight was well below its takeoff weight because of the fuel burned en route.
Example Sentence 2
After the flight, the computed landing weight confirmed the approach speed and stopping distance were safe.