When do you raise the landing gear on takeoff?

When do you raise the landing gear on takeoff?

• A. At liftoff
• B. Two positive rates of climb via altimeter and VSI
• C. After reaching 1000 feet AGL
• D. When instructed by ATC

Answer: (B)

Establishing a positive rate of climb and confirming it with more than one instrument before retracting the landing gear keeps you safe from retracting too early or while not actually climbing. The idea is to verify you are truly moving upward by watching two independent indicators—the altimeter showing increasing altitude and the VSI showing a positive rate of climb—before you pull the gear up. This ensures you have adequate performance to continue a clean takeoff and accelerate without drag penalties or potential obstacles. Options that retraction happens at liftoff, at a fixed altitude like 1000 feet AGL, or only after ATC instruction aren’t as reliable or timely for safe operation.

Establishing a positive rate of climb and confirming it with more than one instrument before retracting the landing gear keeps you safe from retracting too early or while not actually climbing. The idea is to verify you are truly moving upward by watching two independent indicators—the altimeter showing increasing altitude and the VSI showing a positive rate of climb—before you pull the gear up. This ensures you have adequate performance to continue a clean takeoff and accelerate without drag penalties or potential obstacles.

Options that retraction happens at liftoff, at a fixed altitude like 1000 feet AGL, or only after ATC instruction aren’t as reliable or timely for safe operation.