Definition
The extension and retraction of an aircraft's landing gear, including the mechanical, hydraulic, or electrical systems that move the gear, the position and warning indicators that confirm gear status, and the normal and emergency procedures used to operate it.
Plain English
How the landing gear goes down and comes up, how the pilot tells whether it is locked in place, and what to do if it does not work normally.
Context Anchor
Seen during preflight and aircraft-systems checks, especially when reviewing how the landing gear is operated before flight.
Derivation
“Gear” originally meant equipment or apparatus. In aviation, it often refers to the landing gear: the wheels, struts, or other equipment that support the airplane on the ground. “Operation” comes from a word meaning work or action, so “gear operation” means how that equipment works and is controlled.
Why Pilots Care
Correct gear operation prevents gear-up landings and ensures the airplane can safely take off and land on prepared surfaces.
Intuition Check
Do not read “gear” here as engine gears or personal equipment. In this context, it means the aircraft’s landing gear, and “operation” means the whole process of moving, locking, and confirming it.
Example Sentence 1
During the preflight check, the pilot reviewed the gear operation procedures so the emergency extension steps would be familiar if needed in flight.
Example Sentence 2
Low hydraulic pressure can slow gear operation and trigger a warning horn on final approach.