Dealing with your Hang-ups

Landing gear failure and consequent gear-up landings still happen despite system reliability. When the wheels are hung-up, there are several things a pilot can do to encourage them to extend, and one of them is to go for the emergency gear extension (EGE) system. But do you know how to operate it properly?

Although some modern general aviation aircraft, like the Cirrus SR22, Tecnam P2010, Diamond DA40, and Cessna 172 all have fixed gear, many others, like the brand-new design Diamond DA50, most light twins and the Bonanza, have retractable gear. It is a trade-off. Retractable gear means less drag, with higher climb rates and cruise speeds. But that comes at the expense of higher purchase cost and potential issues if the gear does not come down.

With a few exceptions, commuter aircraft and airliners have retractable undercarriages. Of those aircraft that do have retractable gear, electric and hydraulic systems are the most common. In older aeroplanes–for example, Mooney aircraft made before 1969–the gear extension, was powered by the pilot.

Gear systems will typically include one or more lights to indicate that the wheels are up or locked down. Some aircraft have in-transition lights too. Additionally there can be aural or visual warnings if gear is not down when it should be. With the new Garmin Autoland feature, found