![Boeing workers position fans to cool the 777X's wheels and brakes after testing. [Credit: Boeing/Paul Weatherman]](https://flyingmag1.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/08e3dc84-ea92-457d-98af-26cb203ceac0.webp?width=1600&height=1065)
Question: Do jets have antilock brakes to keep the speed and the nosewheel straight at takeoff speed?
Answer: According to one of the CFIs I trained who is now a first officer at an airline, keeping the nosewheel straight on takeoff doesn’t relate to brakes at all. The airplane just needs a little rudder and very slight aileron to track centerline. So because there is so much aerodynamic pressure keeping the airplane straight, a little rudder pressure does the trick.
The aircraft are equipped with antilock brakes (known as locked wheel protection in the manual) to make sure that one set of wheels doesn’t lock when the opposite side wheels are still spinning.
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The aircraft also have autobrakes, but the pilots don’t have to use them, although many do. Settings are rejected takeoff (RTO; required on every takeoff), off, low, medium, and high.
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