When do pilots put out landing gear on a regular commercial aircraft on approach?
Skipper is correct in stating that there is no rule per se (regulatory speaking), but certain “rules of thumb” are commonly practiced by competent pilots via checklists to properly manage cockpit workload and aerodynamic efficiency; especially in an aircraft operated by a single pilot. As Skipper also mentioned common practice calls for extension at the Final Approach Fix (usually collocated with the Outer Marker (LOM)) on instrument approaches and abeam the runway numbers on the downwind leg of a visual traffic pattern. If your flight path (and airfield requirements) allow for a visual straight-in approach to land, then the recommended point at which you would extend the gear is approximately five miles short of the runway. Keep in mind that if a pilot has failed to configure the aircraft’s speed to accommodate the safe extension of the gear, it should not be lowered until that speed is obtained regardless of aircraft position.
