Question from slot #5:
"... how ... do you get the brakes on before landing?..."
Here's one example of the process:
NTSB Identification: MIA04IA056. ... FEDERAL EX ,,, March 11, 2004 in Fort Lauderdale, FL
... A300F4-605R, registration: N682FE ... airplane had a failure of all eight main landing gear tires during the landing roll on runway 27. ... prior to departure they were given paperwork to perform an alternate brake system test in-flight. ... performed additional testing ... to troubleshoot the 2,100 psi reading on the left system. She then returned the system to normal and made a write-up ... touchdown was proper, and the airplane immediately began to decelerate. The captain asked the First Officer if he was braking and he said no. The controller then informed them that he was rolling the equipment and when they asked why, he stated because of smoke and fire. ... probable cause ... :
The flight crews' inadvertent setting of the parking brake during flight ... landed with the parking brake set and failure of all 8 main landing gear tires during the landing rollout.
There have been other airliners attempted T/O with Brakes PARKED, eg:
CHI90IA070 ... January 20, 1990 ... CEDAR RAPIDS...
... B737-300 ...N338UA... ALL FOUR MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRES FAILED DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL JUST PRIOR TO ROTATION. THE PARKING BRAKE HAD BEEN SET ON THE ICY RUNWAY TO DO AN ENGINE RUNUP. THE CAPTAIN STATED HE HAD RELEASED THE BRAKES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE ROLL, AND THE COPILOT SAID HE HAD HEARD THE BRAKES RELEASE. HOWEVER, NEITHER PILOT HAD CHECKED TO SEE IF THE RED PARKING BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON. POST INCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED BOTH THE CAPTAIN'S AND COPILOT'S PARKING BRAKE ACTUATION RIGGING TO BE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT.
... probable cause ...:
THE FAILURE OF ALL FOUR MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRES ON TAKEOFF DUE TO THE PARKING BRAKE BEING LOCKED.
In one case, the cable to the Brakes, at a pulley in the Wheel Well, was fouled with debris that intermittently kept the BRAKES applied, even after write-ups, after examination, after "Ops Chk OK", and sign-offs.