How far out do Planes lower landing gear?

six to five miles
Most aircraft are typically at 10 knots at five miles out depending on the aircraft in route. This gives the pilot enough time to get off the runway. At six to five miles out is typically when the landing gear is dropped.

How do you know when to descend?

A good rule of thumb is to allow yourself two minutes for each 1,000 feet of altitude you need to lose. So, if you’re cruising at 10,000 feet above field elevation, start descending 20 minutes before your planned arrival.

When do pilots lower flaps?

Put down the flaps to the first setting (10 degrees). When you reach 45 degrees past the end of the runway, turn base, and drop another 10 degrees of flap.

What is top of descent in aviation?

So, a jet going 250 knots over the ground will need to descent at 1250 feet per minute to maintain a steady 3-degree path (250 x 5 = 1250 fpm). But a small aircraft going 90 knots only needs to descend at 450 fpm to maintain this path. Note: multiply your ground speed by 5 to get your descent rate.

How far do pilots extend the landing gear from the runway?

Most pilots will extend the landing gear a certain distance/altitude/speed profile from the runway. For large airliners this is often around the 10 mile/3000ft mark. If they forget to do this, there’s a “Before Landing Checklist” that should be done by the (‘co’) pilot (monitoring pilot).

When do you lower the landing gear on a plane?

In light general aviation aircraft, you lower the gear when abeam the touchdown point on downwind, then double-check that the gear is down on final (and possibly on base, as well).

When to drop gear at FAF?

If you need the drag, then use them earlier. In the EMB-145 in still wind or a headwind you could cross the FAF at 250 kts and clean and be on speed and configured by 1000′ if you dropped the gear at the FAF (and opened the speed brakes and the first notch of flaps all at once). Normally though, I’d drop the gear around 1000′.