What a landing gear handle does
A landing gear handle is the lever or switch in an aircraft cockpit that raises and lowers the wheels. When a pilot pulls the handle toward them (or flips a switch, depending on the aircraft type), hydraulic pressure retracts the landing gear into the fuselage during flight to reduce drag. Pushing the handle away or flipping it the opposite direction extends the gear back down before landing.
The handle itself is not the gear—it is the control that commands the gear to move. Most small aircraft have a physical lever you pull and push. Larger commercial jets often use an electronic switch or button. Either way, the pilot's action at the handle triggers a chain of mechanical and hydraulic systems that do the actual work of moving wheels that weigh hundreds of pounds.
Key Takeaways
- The landing gear handle is located on the instrument panel or center console within straightforward reach of the pilot's hand during flight.
- Pulling the handle (or switching it to the up position) retracts the gear; pushing it away (or switching it down) extends the gear for landing.
- The handle controls hydraulic systems that move the gear, not the gear itself, so the pilot does not physically lift or lower the wheels.
- Most aircraft have warning lights and sounds that alert the pilot if the gear is not fully up or down as intended.
- Landing gear handles are color-coded and shaped distinctly so pilots can find and operate them by feel, even in poor visibility or emergencies.
Where the handle sits in the cockpit
In small single-engine or twin-engine aircraft, the landing gear handle is usually mounted on the left side of the center console, between the two pilot seats or just to the left of the yoke (the steering wheel). It is positioned where the pilot's left hand can reach it without letting go of the yoke or taking eyes off the instruments for long.
In larger commercial aircraft, the landing gear switch is typically located on the overhead panel or the center pedestal between the two pilot seats. Flight crews train extensively to locate and operate these controls by touch alone, because during an emergency or low-visibility approach, the pilot may not have time to look away from the windscreen or instruments.
The handle or switch is almost always painted green and shaped like a wheel or gear to make it when ready recognizable. This standardization means a pilot moving from one aircraft type to another can find the landing gear control quickly, even if other cockpit layouts differ.
How the handle connects to the landing gear system
When you move the landing gear handle, you are not directly moving the wheels. Instead, you are opening or closing a valve in the aircraft's hydraulic system. Hydraulic fluid—a special oil that does not compress—flows through tubes and hoses to hydraulic actuators (cylinders) attached to the landing gear struts. The pressure of that fluid pushes or pulls the actuators, which in turn raise or lower the gear.
Most aircraft have redundant hydraulic systems, meaning there are two or more independent hydraulic circuits. If one fails, the other can still raise or lower the gear. Some aircraft also have a manual backup handle or crank that allows the pilot to lower the gear by hand if all hydraulic power is lost—a rare but critical safety feature.
The entire process from handle movement to gear fully extended or retracted usually takes 5 to 15 seconds, depending on the aircraft. During that time, the pilot watches indicator lights on the instrument panel to confirm the gear is moving and will stop moving once it reaches the fully up or fully down position.
Landing gear position indicators and warning systems
Every aircraft with retractable landing gear has lights on the instrument panel that show whether the gear is up, down, or in transit. These lights are typically green for down and locked, red for unsafe or in motion, and off when the gear is fully retracted. A pilot never relies on memory or the position of the handle itself to know where the gear actually is—they always check the lights.
Most aircraft also have an aural warning—a horn, bell, or voice alert—that sounds if the pilot tries to land with the gear still up. Some systems are even more sophisticated: they sense the aircraft's altitude, airspeed, and descent rate, and will sound a warning if the gear is not down when the plane is configured for landing. This redundancy exists because landing gear-up accidents, while rare, are catastrophic and almost always preventable.
Retracting gear during takeoff and extending it for landing
The standard procedure is to retract the landing gear shortly after takeoff, once the aircraft is climbing and has enough altitude that a sudden engine failure would not force an when ready landing. The pilot waits until the wheels have left the ground, confirms the aircraft is climbing, then moves the landing gear handle to the up position. The gear retracts, the indicator lights change from green to off, and the aircraft flies more efficiently with less drag.
Before landing, the pilot extends the gear again while still at altitude and distance from the runway. This gives time to confirm the gear is down and locked (green lights) before committing to the approach. If the lights do not show green, the pilot can climb away, troubleshoot, or declare an emergency and request priority landing. Extending the gear early also allows the aircraft to slow down gradually, because extended gear creates significant drag.
The exact altitude and airspeed at which to raise or lower the gear are specified in the aircraft's operating manual. Pilots follow these limits strictly to avoid damaging the gear or the aircraft structure.
What happens if the landing gear handle fails
If the handle breaks, jams, or does not respond, the pilot has several options depending on the aircraft and the nature of the failure. Many aircraft have an alternate or emergency landing gear extension system—a separate handle, switch, or manual crank that bypasses the primary system. The pilot would use this backup to lower the gear if the main handle fails.
If both the primary and alternate systems fail, some aircraft can lower the gear using gravity alone. The pilot opens a valve that allows the gear to fall into the down position under its own weight, though this method does not lock the gear in place and is used only as a last resort. In extremely rare cases, a pilot may land with the gear up, which requires a specially equipped runway and emergency services standing by.
Modern aircraft are designed with multiple redundancies so that landing gear failure is extremely unlikely. Pilots train for these scenarios in simulators so they know exactly what to do if a problem occurs.
Why landing gear must retract during flight
Retracting the landing gear reduces aerodynamic drag significantly. Extended landing gear can increase fuel consumption by 5 to 10 percent on long flights, which translates to higher operating costs and reduced range. For commercial airlines flying hundreds of flights per year, the fuel savings from retracting gear add up to millions of dollars annually.
Drag also affects performance: an aircraft with extended gear climbs more slowly, reaches lower maximum altitudes, and cannot fly as fast. For small aircraft operating near their performance limits, retracting the gear may be the difference between clearing an obstacle or not. For this reason, retracting the gear is one of the first things a pilot does after takeoff, and extending it is one of the last things before landing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a pilot lower the landing gear without using the handle?
Yes. Most aircraft have an emergency or alternate landing gear extension system that uses a separate control, usually a manual crank or secondary switch. Some aircraft can also lower the gear using gravity if hydraulic power is lost. These backups exist specifically so the gear can be lowered even if the main handle fails.
What does it mean if the landing gear lights are red instead of green?
Red lights typically mean the gear is in motion, unsafe, or not fully locked. The pilot should not land until the lights turn green, which indicates the gear is fully extended and locked in place. If the lights remain red, the pilot climbs away and troubleshoots or declares an emergency.
Why do pilots retract the gear so soon after takeoff?
Retracting the gear reduces drag and improves fuel efficiency and climb performance. Pilots retract it as soon as the aircraft is safely climbing and has enough altitude that an engine failure would not force an when ready landing. The exact altitude is specified in the aircraft's operating manual.
Can landing gear fail while the aircraft is flying?
Gear failure during flight is extremely rare because aircraft have redundant hydraulic systems and extensive maintenance schedules. However, if a problem is detected, the pilot can land with the gear down (which is safe) or use the emergency extension system. Landing with the gear up is a last resort and requires special procedures and emergency services.
How long does it take for the landing gear to fully retract or extend?
Most aircraft take 5 to 15 seconds for the gear to fully move from one position to the other, depending on the aircraft type and the hydraulic system design. The pilot watches the indicator lights to confirm the gear has reached its intended position.