How does a headwind affect landing distance?

A headwind affects landing distance by decreasing it. When an aircraft is landing into a headwind, the wind opposes the forward motion of the aircraft, which means that the aircraft can touch down at a higher airspeed while maintaining slower ground speed. This results in the aircraft utilizing less runway for landing as it decelerates more quickly compared to landing with a tailwind or no wind at all. The headwind effectively shortens the distance needed for the landing rollout, as the aircraft can achieve the necessary aerodynamic lift and control at a lower ground speed.

The presence of a headwind is beneficial in reducing landing distances, which is critical for operations in airports with shorter runways or during situations requiring rapid deceleration. Therefore, pilots will often aim for headwinds during landing to optimize performance and safety margins.