Fly In The Yellow Arc

Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside

Friday, July 22, 2022 at 05:18 PM ET

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Key Takeaways:

Deploying landing gear at high speeds is debated as an emergency airspeed reduction method, with editors defending it as a last-ditch effort in extreme, disorienting situations where traditional maneuvers are not possible.
Pilots, including renters, are legally responsible for ensuring an aircraft's airworthiness (FAR 91.7), even if they rely on mechanics and operators for maintenance details.
A pilot's experience strongly advocates for declaring an emergency to air traffic control in critical situations, as it provides crucial assistance and significantly enhances safety, outweighing concerns about administrative scrutiny.

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Regarding the May 2022 issue’s staff article, “Fly in the Yellow Arc?” I disagree with the recommendation to extend the gear above V_LO to slow down “in a hurry.” The pilot has no idea how the airplane will react to lowering the gear at a high airspeed—will it pitch or yaw? Asymmetric drag if a gear door separates? What will that separated gear door hit on its way back?

The best and fastest way to reduce airspeed is to pull up the nose. Raising it 30 degrees will get your airspeed indicator back in the green in 2-3 seconds. To recover, push over and go slightly negative until the nose is again on the horizon.