Definition
The point at which an aircraft first makes contact with the landing surface during a landing. For instrument approaches, it also refers to the point where the nominal glidepath intercepts the runway.
Plain English
The moment and place where the wheels first meet the runway as the aircraft lands.
Context Anchor
Used in landing discussions, runway distance planning, and reports describing where an aircraft landed on the runway.
Why Pilots Care
The touchdown point determines remaining runway distance for stopping and marks the start of the landing rollout phase.
Intuition Check
Touchdown does not mean the whole landing is complete. It means the first contact with the landing surface has occurred.
Example Sentence 1
The pilot aimed for a smooth touchdown about 1,000 feet past the runway threshold.
Example Sentence 2
After touchdown, the crew applied brakes and reverse thrust to stop within the remaining runway.