Definition
The maneuver flown just before touchdown in which the pilot smoothly transitions the aircraft from its descending approach path to a path nearly parallel with the runway, reducing the rate of descent in preparation for the flare and landing.
Plain English
The point in landing where the pilot gently levels the aircraft out of its descent so it is skimming just above the runway, ready to settle onto the wheels.
Context Anchor
Encountered during landing instruction, especially when learning the last few seconds before the wheels touch the runway.
Derivation
From the everyday sense of 'rounding off' a sharp angle into a smooth curve. In landing, the descending flight path is curved smoothly into a level path just above the runway rather than meeting the ground at a steep angle.
Why Pilots Care
A well-timed round off produces a smooth touchdown and prevents hard landings, ballooning, or runway overruns.
Intuition Check
Do not think of “round off” as estimating a number or making a corner round. In landing, it means smoothing the airplane’s downward path just before touchdown.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor told the student to begin the round off about twenty feet above the runway, then ease into the flare as the airspeed bled off.
Example Sentence 2
A late round off caused the airplane to touch down hard on the main wheels.