When do airlines pull down the gear for landing? Is there any policy (like 5 nm from threshold) to pull it....

Question

... down, or does the pilot just pull it down when he thinks it is ok?

Answer 1

The landing gear is lowered at a set air speed by the pilot, following a strict landing procedure. Only in an emergency can an airline pilot deviate from the procedure.

Answer 2

For the most part it is the pilot's discretion. There is no set regulation as to when you need to do it. But remember, lowering the landing gear cuts down on your aerodynamics so it needs to be done strategically.

Answer 3

Hi John. I will get to your answer shortly, but first a couple of basics.  You don't pull the gear down,you put the gear down (extend) or pull the gear up (retract). Most airline pilots today extend the gear about 5-8 miles from the airport. Sometimes sooner if the situation warrants i.e slow down to allow for spacing of aircraft in front of you or to allow another aircraft to depart before you land. I have been on approach to LAX (Los Angeles) and have had to extend the gear out 20 miles from the airport  due to the fact that they kept us high for too long and had to come down and slow down at same time which is sometimes hard to do. Pilot experience is always the prevailing factor on when to extend the gear. It is never the same and there's no one place on the approach where you have to put the gear down. I personally like to have everything done (checklists) by no later than 1000Ft above the airport elevation. That way all my checklists are done early and I'm totally stable and focused on the landing.  At 5-8 miles from the airport you are about 1500 Ft - 2400 Ft respectively. Hope this helps.

Take care

MIAflyboy

Answer 4

As noted, a pilot would not say, "pull down" the gear.  The term in use would be "lower," or "extend" or "put down" the gear.

Landing gear extension is a command decision at the captain or delegate's discretion.  The usual procedure is to plan the approach for the conditions so that the airplane will be in a certain "window" of airspeed and altitude at a reasonable distance from the landing zone.

The flight deck crew will extend the landing gear when the airplane has slowed below a certain airspeed, which varies from airplane to airplane.  It isn't all that hard and fast a rule, and more a matter of experience and practice.

Answer 5

a good practice is to approach the FAF, slow the airplane  then lower the landing gear at glideslope intercept.(Even if visual)

Answer 6

I believe the party line is, 10 miles off the threshold IFR, runway in sight VFR. best to allow reasonable time cause you do not want to find you have a failed nose gear via your screaming passengers.....lol

Answer 7

I live in San Diego. I came back from Las Vegas to San Diego on Southwest Airlines. The landing gear went down about 10 miles from the airport. I think 10 miles is a good time to put the landing gear down. Any questions you can emial me at [e-mail]

Answer 8

Some airlines (e.g.  Korean Air) do have a requirement that the landing gear be down by the 5 mile final.