What does the term Landing Distance Available (LDA) refer to?

Landing Distance Available (LDA) refers specifically to the length of the runway that is available for an aircraft to land, which excludes any extensions such as a stopway or clearway. A stopway is an area at the end of a runway where an aircraft can decelerate safely in case of an aborted takeoff, while a clearway is an area beyond the runway that is free of obstacles and cannot be used for landing. Since LDA does not account for these additional factors, it is strictly the usable length of the runway itself. This is important for pilots and aviation operations to determine whether the available runway length is sufficient for safe landings under various conditions, taking into account factors like aircraft weight, weather, and runway surface conditions. Understanding LDA is crucial for flight planning and ensuring safety during landings.