hi
the reason we are so low is that manchester own the airspace directly above and west of the airport so we have to be 3000ft or below abeam the field if we are on runway 27.at ryan we try to drop the gear around 4 miles from the runway to save noise and fuel,sometimes further out if there is a tailwind or we are to fast.some companies drop the gear further out as they intercept glide.
hope that helps
captnng