Pilot skill used to put down on shore (7,5)

I believe the answer is:

landing craft

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'to put down on shore' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'pilot skill' is the wordplay.
'pilot' becomes 'landing' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'skill' becomes 'craft' (craft is a kind of skill).
'landing'+'craft'='LANDING-CRAFT'

'used' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for landing craft that I've seen before include "Military vessel" , "Small vessel for putting troops and equipment ashore" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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