Landing gear down for long time after take off
 

Just happened to be parked up in a lay by on the A45 today at about 1300 and watched a large twin on climb out from BHX. Was surprised to see the gear down despite it being some time and distance from leaving the ground. Not had the change to review FR24 to work out which flight and equipment yet but wondered why this was the case?

Just found out it was a Monarch A330, that did a circuit and landed. Wonder why?

Maybe because the gear wouldn't retract?

Gear trouble perhaps. Or they are just checking something out after some maintenance procedure.

I live about 15 miles from Paine Field (KPAE) and from time to time, a new Boeing jet flys over low and slow with gear down. I've checked FR24 and its usually a Boeing flight for a new plane just off the line. I imagine they took off, got some sort of warning message and either left the gear down or dropped them quickly to ensure they would be down before a hydraulic problem (leak?) prevented that. And head back for the shop.

Aircraft was on a test flight post heavy maintenance.:ok:

Some Flight Operations Policies prohibit retracting the landing gear if you're remaining in the traffic pattern doing transition work (ie touch and go's or stop and go's or missed approaches).

Just depends on who your boss is.