A330 Departure EGPF - Interesting
 

Was at a point app 5.0 miles from the threshold of 05 this morning, place called Mugdock Park when a Thomas Cook 330 departed. They are always interesting departures. The aeroplane emerged over the trees at my vantage point, app 1800 feet, gear down, virtually flat climb, with landing lights all still on. High ground in front, pulled into a left climbing turn, began raising the gear and lumbered away. Certainly looked entertaining!. Did anyone else witness this?

Question, if for any reason climb performance was inadequate in an Airbus 330, would the crew leave the gear down to minimise drag on poor climb performance?

The most likely explanation for the gear remaining down is due to 1 brake being inoperative.
As the gear is retracted brakes are applied to stop the wheels spinning.
When this is not possible the gear needs to be left down for 2 minutes to allow the airflow to reduce the speed of the spinning wheel.

Certainly nothing to do with drag reduction.

Ah, thanks. It all looked somewhat spectacular from the ground vantage point. Cheers

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by maxred (Post 10168339)

Question, if for any reason climb performance was inadequate in an Airbus 330, would the crew leave the gear down to minimise drag on poor climb performance?

---

I agree, probably a deactivated brake (or the PNF was texting and forgot ;)). On light multiengine planes there is a perhaps more of a rush to raise the gear and reduce drag because some have a negative climb gradient with an engine failure and wheels down. On large planes it is argued that drag initially increases momentarily when the gear is selected up as the gear doors open so you want to make sure you are well established in a climb before raising the lever (or flipping the dinky little wheel-shaped switch on some widebodies). In the modern era with all kinds of electronic monitoring you'll probably get a phone call from the chief pilot's office if you are in the habit of raising the gear below 100 feet AGL on takeoff in an airliner. Or, so they tell me.

Here's a possible candidate for the plane you saw take the left turn at 1800 feet, it's the MCO flight:

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/...15ZZ/EGPF/KMCO

https://www.flightradar24.com/TCX2650/11a71f81

On climbout decades ago an instructor pilot asked "Aviation Officer Candidate Airbubba, what do you think they raise around here in L.A. (Lower Alabama)?"

"Sir, I don't rightly know, looks like corn and cotton to me."

"Well, they raise they raise their damn GEAR!" :D

Most airlines have an acceleration altitude of 1,000ft all = low acceleration.

There could be two reasons.

Brake issue via the MEL (not a big issue on an A330), or the fact it has a short turnaround and the crew want to cool the brakes prior to retraction or prior to heating them up again on landing.

Seems pretty standard ops.