Prior to calling "GEAR UP" the PF must _____.

• A. Confirm positive rate of climb
• B. Call for gear up immediately
• C. Verify NAV radio is tuned
• D. Set flaps to 0

Answer: (A)

Establishing a positive rate of climb is the signal that the aircraft is actually lifting off and beginning to ascend, not just idle on the runway or in a shallow climb. Once you’ve confirmed you’re climbing, the PF calls for gear up to start retracting the landing gear and to coordinate with the crew that the gear is moving to the up position and locked. Retracting gear before a positive climb can leave the airplane draggy and less stable, and you might risk re-contacting the gear if you’re not truly climbing. The other options aren’t gating conditions for this call: tuning the NAV radio isn’t part of the gear sequence, and while flaps are usually retracted during the climb, the required precondition for calling gear up is demonstrating a positive rate of climb.