Definition
The cockpit control used by the pilot to command the landing gear to extend or retract. It is typically a two-position switch or lever, often shaped like a small wheel, located on the instrument panel and electrically or hydraulically linked to the landing gear actuating system.
Plain English
The control in the cockpit that the pilot moves up or down to raise or lower the wheels.
Context Anchor
You encounter the gear switch in the cockpit of airplanes with retractable landing gear, usually during the after-takeoff and before-landing flows or checklists.
Derivation
Gear' is short for 'landing gear,' the wheels and supporting structure the airplane lands on. The shape of the handle (a small wheel) is a deliberate design standard so pilots can identify it by touch alone, without looking.
Why Pilots Care
Proper use prevents gear-up landings on the ground and reduces drag in flight when the gear is raised.
Intuition Check
Do not confuse the gear switch with the landing gear itself. The switch only commands the gear to move; the pilot still checks the indicators to confirm where the gear actually is.
Example Sentence 1
After a positive rate of climb was established, the pilot moved the gear switch to the up position and confirmed three lights extinguished.
Example Sentence 2
After a positive rate of climb the pilot moves the gear switch to the up position to clean up the airplane and reduce drag.