An air cushioned landing system for an air vehicle comprises an inflatable and deflatable skirt (113) in the form of a tube having inner (101) and outer (100) walls. The inner wall defines a central plenum (116) within the skirt, the skirt including gas pockets (130) arranged to stiffen one or more regions of at least one of the inner (101) and outer (100) sidewalls during deflation of the skirt. A gas pocket fan inflates the gas pockets prior to and during deflation of the skirt, wherein the gas pockets are constrained to move from a mutually spaced apart position when the skirt is inflated, to a mutually closely adjacent position when the skirt is fully deflated.