landings

Landings are the plural form of landing and a term used in several domains to describe endings of movement: bringing a vehicle to a surface, providing a platform between levels, or a military operation involving moving from sea to shore. The common thread is transition from a higher, airborne, or waterborne state to a rest on a surface.

In aviation and spaceflight, a landing is the moment when an aircraft or spacecraft makes contact with a surface and decelerates to a stop. The plural landings can refer to multiple such events—such as the landings of a single aircraft on a journey, a fleet's schedule of landings, or a training sequence that includes touch-and-go landings.

In naval and amphibious contexts, a landing is an operation that delivers troops, equipment, or supplies from sea to shore. Landings are typically coordinated with naval gunfire or missiles, air support, and the use of landing craft. Historic landings include amphibious operations in World War II, such as the Normandy landings, as well as earlier campaigns like Gallipoli and Inchon.

In architecture and building design, a landing is a flat, level area at the top of a stairwell or between flights of stairs. Landings provide space for turning, resting, or the installation of doors, and their size and configuration are dictated by building codes and design goals.