What occurs during the landing phase of a flight?

During the landing phase of a flight, the primary focus is on safely bringing the aircraft down to the ground and coming to a stop. This involves several critical actions, but most notably, the aircraft touches down on the runway and begins the process of slowing down. During this phase, pilots manage the descent rate and landing speed to ensure a safe touchdown. Once the aircraft makes contact with the runway, braking systems are employed to reduce speed effectively, with thrust reversers often activated to assist in deceleration.

Understanding that landing encompasses these actions clarifies why the answer highlighting the aircraft touching down and slowing down is correct. This phase marks the transition from flight to ground operation, emphasizing safety and control as the flight concludes. Other options, while related to aspects of flight, do not accurately represent what specifically happens during landing. For instance, acceleration happens during takeoff or taxiing and not during landing. Preparing for takeoff and navigating through turbulence pertain to different stages of flight, further distinguishing why the landing phase is characterized by the aircraft contacting the runway and reducing speed.