Aircraft Landing Gear Systems Flashcards
7 cards from real AMT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Aircraft Landing Gear Systems flashcards as text
A landing gear unsafe (red) position indicator light typically means:
Answer: Gear is in transit or not confirmed in a safe position
A red unsafe light indicates the landing gear is in an intermediate, transitional, or unlocked position — not confirmed fully up and locked or fully down and locked.
A squat switch (weight-on-wheels switch) is used primarily to:
Answer: Prevent landing gear retraction while the aircraft is on the ground
The squat switch senses weight on the landing gear and provides a safety interlock that prevents the gear from being retracted while the aircraft is on the ground.
A power-boost brake system uses hydraulic power to:
Answer: Amplify pilot pedal input forces for more effective braking with less effort
Power-boost brakes use hydraulic pressure to multiply the force the pilot applies through the brake pedals, enabling effective braking of heavy aircraft without excessive pilot effort.
Aircraft tires are typically inflated with nitrogen rather than compressed air primarily because:
Answer: Nitrogen is dry and inert, resisting moisture accumulation and temperature-driven pressure changes
Nitrogen is dry (preventing moisture condensation and corrosion inside the wheel) and chemically inert, making tire pressure more stable across extreme temperature changes compared to compressed air.
What is the function of a brake debooster valve?
Answer: Reduce high system hydraulic pressure to the lower pressure required by the brake assemblies
A debooster (pressure-reducing) valve steps down the aircraft's high hydraulic system pressure to the lower pressure required by brake assemblies, preventing brake component damage and overheating.
During landing gear retraction, the typical sequence of gear door operation is:
Answer: Doors open before gear retraction begins, then close after the gear is fully retracted
Sequencing valves ensure gear doors open first to clear the path for gear retraction, then the doors close behind the gear once it is fully seated in the wheel well.
On large transport aircraft, nose wheel steering is typically accomplished by:
Answer: A hydraulic actuator on the nose gear controlled by rudder pedals or a dedicated tiller
Large aircraft use a dedicated hydraulic steering actuator on the nose gear for precise ground maneuvering, controllable via rudder pedals at low angles and a nose wheel steering tiller for sharp turns.