Landing requires ability with feathers (9)
I believe the answer is:
touchdown
'landing' is the definition.
(touchdown is a kind of landing)
'ability with feathers' is the wordplay.
'ability' becomes 'touch' (touch is a kind of ability).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'feathers' becomes 'down' (down can mean bird feathers).
'touch'+'down'='TOUCHDOWN'
'requires' is the link.
(Other definitions for touchdown that I've seen before include "at end of flight" , "A score of six points in American football" , "land" , "Moment of landing" , "Try for this" .)