Definition
VLE is the maximum airspeed at which an airplane may be flown with the landing gear in the fully extended position. Exceeding VLE risks structural damage to the gear, gear doors, and supporting attachment points due to aerodynamic loads.
Plain English
It is the fastest speed you are allowed to fly when the wheels are already down and locked.
Context Anchor
Seen in approach-and-landing procedures and in the airplane’s limitations section when deciding whether it is safe to fly with the landing gear extended.
Derivation
The 'V' comes from the French vitesse, meaning speed. 'LE' stands for 'landing gear extended.' Aviation borrows V-speed labels from early French aeronautical engineering, which is why so many performance speeds start with V.
Why Pilots Care
Exceeding VLE with the gear down can bend gear doors, damage struts, or cause loss of the gear, creating an emergency and possible loss of control.
Intuition Check
VLE is not the speed for moving the landing gear up or down; it is the speed limit with the gear already fully extended. It is also not a target speed for landing.
Example Sentence 1
On descent, the pilot kept airspeed below VLE so the extended gear could safely act as a speed brake.
Example Sentence 2
During a go-around with the gear already down, the crew maintained airspeed under VLE while retracting flaps.