Threshold
Definition
The beginning of the portion of a runway available for landing. Marked with white stripes, it indicates the point where aircraft should touch down.
Related Terms
Runway
A defined rectangular area on an airport prepared for the takeoff and landing of aircraft. Runways are numbered based on their magnetic heading, divided by 10.
Touchdown Zone
The first 3,000 feet of a runway, measured from the threshold, which is the target area for aircraft to make initial contact during landing.
Landing
The phase of flight in which an aircraft descends and makes contact with the runway surface. Involves approach, flare, touchdown, and rollout to decelerate to taxi speed.
Related Guides
Airport Runway Operations: How Planes Take Off and Land
Runway selection, ILS approaches, visual vs instrument landing, and the technology that enables safe takeoffs and landings.
Airport Lighting Explained: What All Those Lights Mean
Runway lights (PAPI, VASI), taxiway lights, approach lighting, and the color-coded system that guides pilots at night.