When do Wheels come down?

Living in SW London and flying into LHR most weeks I have noticed there doesn't seem to be a 'usual' of when wheels come down. Doesn't seems to make a difference between light and heavy aircraft. Is there an approx distance from landing or height as to when this should happen?

Just had a BA 747 fly over with no wheels yet but a VS 346 that followed not long after already had the wheels down.
Just curious so would be interested to know!

Depends on company procedures and ATC requirements.
Some companies will call for gear down 8-10 miles out but 5-8 is more usual for a heavy.
In theory it is possible to delay to almost 3 miles: from 1000' you should be fully stabilized with gear & flaps in landing configuration.
Gear down is used as a very effective brake - aircraft descending tend to speed up!
By delaying gear down you travel faster and close up to the aircraft ahead.
By extending gear early you slow down and give a greater separation.
So gear can be used to control your position relative to the others landing with minimum fuel burn penalty

[Scrooge]

As Bill Says, there are variables, in general (please correct me if I am wrong) it is when you are cleared on final, so 8-10 nm out.

[Darren Wheeler]

Personally I prefer them down just before the fuselage touches the ground but that's just me... [:p]

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
Personally I prefer them down just before the fuselage touches the ground but that's just me... [:p]

You are so picky you know that, anyways, that's not always the case at Hull international airport where planes have been known to land on their bellies just to stop the chavs from trying to steal the wheels.

Back to normal, so RJD as you can see there are variables that come into play, but the one thing we all agree on is before landing is good...A wealth of knowledge this place [B)]

VS has gear down and landing checks complete by 1500 feet above the airfield.

EC

Originally posted by Edna Cloud
VS has gear down and landing checks complete by 1500 feet above the airfield.

EC

QFE [:D]


NOC

Thanks for all the info - I'm happy as long as they're down before we hit the ground!