Landing. The last of the stages of flight of an aircraft, the Landing, as its name indicates, is the moment when the aircraft approaches the destination airport and prepares to land on the runway assigned by the control tower.

The final phase of flight is officially called the Landing Phase, which is preceded by the Approach Phase. The approach begins when the pilot aligns the aircraft with the runway and descends toward the airport, often following a "glide slope." This transitions into the "final approach," where the aircraft is on its last straight-leg segment toward the runway. The very last moment before touchdown is known as the Flare, where the pilot raises the nose of the airplane to slow the descent rate and ensure a smooth contact with the ground. Once the wheels touch the pavement, the aircraft enters the Roll-out (or landing roll), where brakes, spoilers, and thrust reversers are used to decelerate. In 2026, modern avionics and "Autoland" systems have made these phases incredibly precise, but the transition from the stabilized approach to the flare remains the most critical set of maneuvers a pilot performs. After the aircraft reaches a safe taxi speed and exits the runway, the flight technically enters the "Taxi-in" phase, concluding the operational journey.