diff --git a/ArduPlane/quadplane.cpp b/ArduPlane/quadplane.cpp
index 05a79484577301..ebb13affb11b73 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/quadplane.cpp
+++ b/ArduPlane/quadplane.cpp
@@ -4189,6 +4189,22 @@ bool QuadPlane::in_vtol_airbrake(void) const
     return false;
 }
 
+QuadPlane::VTOL_Landing_State QuadPlane::get_vtol_landing_state() const {
+    if (in_vtol_land_approach()) {
+        return VTOL_Landing_State::APPROACH;
+    } else if (in_vtol_land_final()) {
+        return VTOL_Landing_State::FINAL;
+    } else if (in_vtol_land_sequence()) {
+        return VTOL_Landing_State::SEQUENCE;
+    } else if (in_vtol_land_poscontrol()) {
+        return VTOL_Landing_State::POSCONTROL;
+    } else if (in_vtol_airbrake()) {
+        return VTOL_Landing_State::AIRBRAKE;
+    } else {
+        return VTOL_Landing_State::NONE;
+    }
+}
+
 // return true if we should show VTOL view
 bool QuadPlane::show_vtol_view() const
 {
diff --git a/ArduPlane/quadplane.h b/ArduPlane/quadplane.h
index 2ced92498b423f..9b2c07ca5c3d3a 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/quadplane.h
+++ b/ArduPlane/quadplane.h
@@ -720,6 +720,20 @@ class QuadPlane
     MAV_RESULT mavlink_motor_test_start(mavlink_channel_t chan, uint8_t motor_seq, uint8_t throttle_type,
                                         uint16_t throttle_value, float timeout_sec,
                                         uint8_t motor_count);
+
+    // Enum for VTOL landing states
+    enum class VTOL_Landing_State {
+        NONE,
+        APPROACH,
+        FINAL,
+        SEQUENCE,
+        POSCONTROL,
+        AIRBRAKE
+    };
+
+    // function to get the VTOL landing state
+    VTOL_Landing_State get_vtol_landing_state() const;
+
 private:
     void motor_test_stop();