Definition
Cockpit lights, horns, or other alerts on a retractable-gear airplane that signal the position and status of the landing gear, including whether the gear is up, down and locked, in transit, or in an unsafe configuration relative to power and flap settings.
Plain English
The lights and horns in the cockpit that tell the pilot what the landing gear is doing — whether it is up, fully down and locked, still moving, or in a position that doesn't match the power and flap setting.
Context Anchor
Seen in retractable landing gear airplanes during gear extension, approach, landing checks, and abnormal gear situations.
Derivation
Warning comes from an old word meaning to give notice of possible danger. Indicator comes from Latin meaning to point out or show. Together, the phrase means something that points out a possible unsafe condition before it becomes a bigger problem.
Why Pilots Care
Ignoring or missing these signals can lead to gear-up landings or unnecessary drag from partially retracted gear, both of which create serious safety and performance risks.
Grounding Statement
On final approach with power reduced, an illuminated red light or horn sounding means the gear is not extended and locked.
Intuition Check
Do not treat warning indicators as simple reminders. In this context, they are safety alerts that may mean the landing gear is not in the safe condition needed for landing.
Example Sentence 1
On final approach, the pilot checked the warning indicators and confirmed three green lights showing the gear was down and locked.
Example Sentence 2
After raising the gear the pilot waited until the warning indicators extinguished before continuing the climb.