Plain English Meaning

Any unpaved or yielding surface — like grass, mud, sand, or snow — where the wheels sink in or drag, making the airplane harder to move on the ground. Pilots use special techniques to take off and land safely on these surfaces.

Full Definition

A runway or landing surface whose composition creates significant rolling resistance and reduces the airplane's ability to accelerate or decelerate normally. Typical soft-field surfaces include grass, dirt, sand, mud, snow, or wet turf. Soft-field operations require modified takeoff and landing techniques to keep weight off the nosewheel, minimize ground friction, and prevent the wheels from digging in or bogging down.