final approach
Last leg down
Final approach is the last segment of an aircraft's descent before landing, when it is aligned with the runway and committed to touching down.
Air traffic control clears pilots for final approach when the path is safe.
Figuratively, any project or endeavor nearing completion may be on final approach: We're on final approach with this merger.
- touchdownSix-point gridiron play
- landingDescent's final moment
- glideslopeAircraft descent angle guidance
- flareSudden bright burst
- gear downLower transmission ratio
runway · runway lights · go-around · autoland · descent · endgame · wrap-up · air traffic control · culmination · closure · wind shear · roll out · flight path · navigation aids · stall speed · ground speed · last mile · reverse thrust
- Air Trafficair traffic control, ATC, controller, radar contact, radar tracking
- flight statusbooked, canceled, delayed, boarding, cancelled
- airline termscaptain, pilot, copilot, first officer, flight attendant
- aviation jargoncockpit, fuselage, jetway, pushback, holding pattern
- flight patternsflight path, holding pattern, traffic pattern, landing pattern, V formation
- descentsrappelling, abseiling, lowering, parachuting, skydiving