diff --git a/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/gendru.c b/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/gendru.c
index 6d4b9e008..9013f14a9 100644
--- a/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/gendru.c
+++ b/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/gendru.c
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ GenerateDruuge_generateEnergy (SOLARSYS_STATE *solarSys, PLANET_DESC *world,
 
 				if (!GET_GAME_STATE (ROSY_SPHERE))
 				{
-					pLanderInputState->planetSideDesc->InTransit = TRUE;
+					SetLanderTakeoff ();
 
 					SET_GAME_STATE (ROSY_SPHERE, 1);
 					SET_GAME_STATE (ROSY_SPHERE_ON_SHIP, 1);
diff --git a/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/genpku.c b/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/genpku.c
index eb563749f..a823f7d47 100644
--- a/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/genpku.c
+++ b/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/genpku.c
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ GeneratePkunk_generateEnergy (SOLARSYS_STATE *solarSys, PLANET_DESC *world,
 
 				if (!GET_GAME_STATE (CLEAR_SPINDLE))
 				{
-					pLanderInputState->planetSideDesc->InTransit = TRUE;
+					SetLanderTakeoff ();
 
 					SET_GAME_STATE (CLEAR_SPINDLE, 1);
 					SET_GAME_STATE (CLEAR_SPINDLE_ON_SHIP, 1);
diff --git a/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/gensol.c b/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/gensol.c
index 1cd237ce9..22c106f1e 100644
--- a/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/gensol.c
+++ b/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/gensol.c
@@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ GenerateSol_generateEnergy (SOLARSYS_STATE *solarSys, PLANET_DESC *world,
 				SET_GAME_STATE (FOUND_PLUTO_SPATHI, 1);
 				solarSys->SysInfo.PlanetInfo.ScanRetrieveMask[ENERGY_SCAN]
 						&= ~(1L << 0);
-				pLanderInputState->planetSideDesc->InTransit = TRUE;
+				SetLanderTakeoff ();
 			}
 			else if (*whichNode == (COUNT)~0)
 				*whichNode = 1;
diff --git a/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/gensup.c b/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/gensup.c
index 07e6c95c0..810a17eb3 100644
--- a/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/gensup.c
+++ b/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/gensup.c
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ GenerateSupox_generateEnergy (SOLARSYS_STATE *solarSys, PLANET_DESC *world,
 
 				if (!GET_GAME_STATE (ULTRON_CONDITION))
 				{
-					pLanderInputState->planetSideDesc->InTransit = TRUE;
+					SetLanderTakeoff ();
 
 					SET_GAME_STATE (ULTRON_CONDITION, 1);
 				}
diff --git a/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/genvault.c b/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/genvault.c
index 02c4842ae..c95afc185 100644
--- a/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/genvault.c
+++ b/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/genvault.c
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ GenerateVault_generateEnergy (SOLARSYS_STATE *solarSys, PLANET_DESC *world,
 					&= ~(1L << 0);
 			if (GET_GAME_STATE (SYREEN_SHUTTLE_ON_SHIP))
 			{
-				pLanderInputState->planetSideDesc->InTransit = TRUE;
+				SetLanderTakeoff ();
 
 				SET_GAME_STATE (SHIP_VAULT_UNLOCKED, 1);
 				SET_GAME_STATE (SYREEN_SHUTTLE_ON_SHIP, 0);
diff --git a/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/genvux.c b/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/genvux.c
index e3210cfec..e1dbf4f5a 100644
--- a/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/genvux.c
+++ b/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/genvux.c
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ GenerateVux_generateLife (SOLARSYS_STATE *solarSys, PLANET_DESC *world,
 				UnbatchGraphics ();
 				DoDiscoveryReport (MenuSounds);
 				BatchGraphics ();
-				pLanderInputState->planetSideDesc->InTransit = TRUE;
+				SetLanderTakeoff ();
 
 				SET_GAME_STATE (VUX_BEAST, 1);
 				SET_GAME_STATE (VUX_BEAST_ON_SHIP, 1);
diff --git a/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/genwreck.c b/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/genwreck.c
index 456f43ba4..660fdeae9 100644
--- a/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/genwreck.c
+++ b/sc2/src/uqm/planets/generate/genwreck.c
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ GenerateWreck_generateEnergy (SOLARSYS_STATE *solarSys, PLANET_DESC *world,
 
 			if (!GET_GAME_STATE (PORTAL_KEY))
 			{
-				pLanderInputState->planetSideDesc->InTransit = TRUE;
+				SetLanderTakeoff ();
 
 				SET_GAME_STATE (PORTAL_KEY, 1);
 				SET_GAME_STATE (PORTAL_KEY_ON_SHIP, 1);
diff --git a/sc2/src/uqm/planets/lander.c b/sc2/src/uqm/planets/lander.c
index 19a7977cf..a00f0a2f2 100644
--- a/sc2/src/uqm/planets/lander.c
+++ b/sc2/src/uqm/planets/lander.c
@@ -50,12 +50,18 @@
 // ONE_SECOND.
 #define PLANET_SIDE_RATE (ONE_SECOND / 35)
 
-LanderInputState *pLanderInputState;
-		// Temporary, to replace the references to pMenuState.
-		// TODO: Many functions depend on pLanderInputState. In particular,
-		//   the ELEMENT property functions. Fields in LanderInputState
-		//   should either be made static vars, or ELEMENT should carry
-		//   something like an 'intptr_t private' field
+
+// This is a derived type from INPUT_STATE_DESC.
+typedef struct LanderInputState LanderInputState;
+struct LanderInputState {
+	// Fields required by DoInput()
+	BOOLEAN (*InputFunc) (LanderInputState *pMS);
+	COUNT MenuRepeatDelay;
+
+	BOOLEAN Initialized;
+	TimeCount NextTime;
+			// Frame rate control
+};
 
 FRAME LanderFrame[8];
 static SOUND LanderSounds;
@@ -164,6 +170,9 @@ static int turn_wait;
 static int weapon_wait;
 		// semantics similar to STARSHIP.weapon_counter
 
+// TODO: We may want to make the PLANETSIDE_DESC fields into static vars
+static PLANETSIDE_DESC *planetSideDesc;
+
 #define ON_THE_GROUND   0
 
 
@@ -646,7 +655,7 @@ CheckObjectCollision (COUNT index)
 	DRAWABLE LanderHandle;
 	PRIMITIVE *pPrim;
 	PRIMITIVE *pLanderPrim;
-	PLANETSIDE_DESC *pPSD;
+	PLANETSIDE_DESC *pPSD = planetSideDesc;
 
 	if (index != END_OF_LIST)
 	{
@@ -663,7 +672,6 @@ CheckObjectCollision (COUNT index)
 		index = GetSuccLink (DisplayLinks);
 	}
 
-	pPSD = pLanderInputState->planetSideDesc;
 	LanderControl.EndPoint = LanderControl.IntersectStamp.origin;
 	LanderHandle = GetFrameParentDrawable (LanderControl.IntersectStamp.frame);
 
@@ -920,9 +928,8 @@ lightning_process (ELEMENT *ElementPtr)
 			if (ElementPtr->mass_points == LIGHTNING_DISASTER)
 			{
 				/* This one always strikes the lander and can hurt */
-				PLANETSIDE_DESC *pPSD = pLanderInputState->planetSideDesc;
 				if (crew_left && TFB_Random () % 100 < 10
-						&& !pPSD->InTransit)
+						&& !planetSideDesc->InTransit)
 					lander_flags |= KILL_CREW;
 
 				ElementPtr->next.location = curLanderLoc;
@@ -1055,13 +1062,12 @@ BuildObjectList (void)
 	DWORD rand_val;
 	POINT org;
 	HELEMENT hElement, hNextElement;
-	PLANETSIDE_DESC *pPSD;
+	PLANETSIDE_DESC *pPSD = planetSideDesc;
 
 	DisplayLinks = MakeLinks (END_OF_LIST, END_OF_LIST);
 	
 	lander_flags &= ~KILL_CREW;
 
-	pPSD = pLanderInputState->planetSideDesc;
 	rand_val = TFB_Random ();
 	if (LOBYTE (HIWORD (rand_val)) < pPSD->FireChance)
 	{
@@ -1267,9 +1273,7 @@ ScrollPlanetSide (SIZE dx, SIZE dy, int landingOffset)
 		CheckObjectCollision (END_OF_LIST);
 
 	{
-		PLANETSIDE_DESC *pPSD;
-
-		pPSD = pLanderInputState->planetSideDesc;
+		PLANETSIDE_DESC *pPSD = planetSideDesc;
 		if (pPSD->NumFrames)
 		{
 			--pPSD->NumFrames;
@@ -1624,7 +1628,7 @@ landerSpeedNumer = WORLD_TO_VELOCITY (48);
 	else if (crew_left /* alive and taking off */
 			&& ((CurrentInputState.key[PlayerControls[0]][KEY_ESCAPE] ||
 			CurrentInputState.key[PlayerControls[0]][KEY_SPECIAL])
-			|| pLanderInputState->planetSideDesc->InTransit))
+			|| planetSideDesc->InTransit))
 	{
 		return FALSE;
 	}
@@ -1870,6 +1874,14 @@ LandingTakeoffSequence (LanderInputState *inputState, BOOLEAN landing)
 		IdlePlanetSide (inputState, ONE_SECOND / 2);
 }
 
+void
+SetLanderTakeoff (void)
+{
+	assert (planetSideDesc != NULL);
+	if (planetSideDesc)
+		planetSideDesc->InTransit = TRUE;
+}
+
 void
 PlanetSide (POINT planetLoc)
 {
@@ -1936,14 +1948,8 @@ PlanetSide (POINT planetLoc)
 			BUILD_COLOR (MAKE_RGB15 (0x1F, 0x0A, 0x00), 0x7D);
 	PSD.ColorCycle[(NUM_TEXT_FRAMES >> 1) - 1] =
 			BUILD_COLOR (MAKE_RGB15 (0x1F, 0x03, 0x00), 0x7F);
-	landerInputState.planetSideDesc = &PSD;
+	planetSideDesc = &PSD;
 	
-	// TODO: Many functions depend on pLanderInputState. In particular,
-	//   the ELEMENT property functions. Fields in LanderInputState
-	//   should either be made static vars, or ELEMENT should carry
-	//   something like an 'intptr_t private' field
-	pLanderInputState = &landerInputState;
-
 	index = NORMALIZE_FACING (TFB_Random ());
 	LanderFrame[0] = SetAbsFrameIndex (LanderFrame[0], index);
 	crew_left = 0;
@@ -2020,7 +2026,7 @@ PlanetSide (POINT planetLoc)
 		}
 	}
 
-	landerInputState.planetSideDesc = NULL;
+	planetSideDesc = NULL;
 
 	{
 		HELEMENT hElement, hNextElement;
diff --git a/sc2/src/uqm/planets/lander.h b/sc2/src/uqm/planets/lander.h
index 55c662bc0..ce048bbb7 100644
--- a/sc2/src/uqm/planets/lander.h
+++ b/sc2/src/uqm/planets/lander.h
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@
 
 #define NUM_TEXT_FRAMES 32
 
+// XXX: This is a private type now. Move it to lander.c?
+//   We may also want to merge it with LanderInputState.
 typedef struct
 {
 	BOOLEAN InTransit;
@@ -54,34 +56,6 @@ typedef struct
 	BYTE FireChance;
 } PLANETSIDE_DESC;
 
-// This is a derived type from INPUT_STATE_DESC.
-// Originally, the general MENU_STATE structure was used. Now, only the
-// fields which are relevant are put in here. In the MENU_STATE structure,
-// these fields were reused for all sorts of purposes, which had nothing
-// to do with what the name suggests. Not all fields have been renamed yet
-// in LanderInputState.
-typedef struct LanderInputState LanderInputState;
-struct LanderInputState {
-	BOOLEAN (*InputFunc) (LanderInputState *pMS);
-	COUNT MenuRepeatDelay;
-
-	PLANETSIDE_DESC *planetSideDesc;
-	SIZE Initialized;
-	TimeCount NextTime;
-			// Frame rate control
-};
-
-extern LanderInputState *pLanderInputState;
-		// Temporary, to replace the references to pMenuState.
-		// TODO: Many functions depend on pLanderInputState. In particular,
-		//   the ELEMENT property functions. Fields in LanderInputState
-		//   should either be made static vars, or ELEMENT should carry
-		//   something like an 'intptr_t private' field
-		// TODO: Generation functions use pLanderInputState to locate
-		//   the PLANETSIDE_DESC.InTransit. Make those instances into
-		//   a function call instead.
-
-
 extern MUSIC_REF LanderMusic;
 
 extern void PlanetSide (POINT planetLoc);
@@ -92,6 +66,8 @@ extern void FreeLanderData (void);
 
 extern void object_animation (ELEMENT *ElementPtr);
 
+extern void SetLanderTakeoff (void);
+
 // ELEMENT.playerNr constants
 enum
 {