The “landing distance” of an aircraft is the distance required for the aircraft to come to a complete stop after touching down on the runway. It includes both the ground roll distance (distance traveled on the runway) and the distance needed to decelerate and stop. Landing distance is a critical parameter for aircraft design and operations, as it directly affects the safety and efficiency of landings.
The formula for calculating the landing distance () of an aircraft is complex and involves several factors, including aircraft characteristics, approach conditions, and landing conditions. A simplified version of the formula is as follows:
- is the landing distance (typically in meters or feet).
- is the approach speed (the speed at which the aircraft touches down) (typically in meters per second or feet per second).
- is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.81 m/s² or 32.2 ft/s²).
- is the coefficient of friction between the tires of the aircraft and the runway (dimensionless).