Definition
The final phase of flight in which the airplane transitions from the air to the ground, consisting of a stabilized approach, roundout (flare), touchdown on the main wheels at minimum safe airspeed, and a controlled rollout along the runway centerline until the airplane is slowed to taxi speed.
Plain English
Bringing the airplane down from the air onto the runway in a smooth, controlled way and slowing it down safely.
Context Anchor
You encounter this term whenever the handbook discusses bringing an airplane from flight onto a runway or other landing area.
Derivation
Landing comes from the word land, meaning the solid ground. The aviation meaning keeps that basic idea: the airplane is being brought from the air back onto the ground in a controlled way.
Why Pilots Care
A well-executed landing prevents runway excursions, structural damage, and loss of directional control.
Intuition Check
Landing does not mean only the instant the wheels touch. In flight training, it usually means the whole act of bringing the airplane to the surface and slowing it safely under control.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor reminded the student that a stabilized approach is the foundation of every good landing.
Example Sentence 2
After landing, the crew cleared the runway and taxied to the ramp without delay.