Aircraft Landing Gear Systems Practice Test

Centering cams are part of the nose landing gear that push the nose wheel to the straight-ahead position as the nose gear strut extends into its down position during the take-off to landing transition. When the aircraft is going from flight toward landing, the gear is deployed and the cams ensure the wheel is centered so the steering linkage operates smoothly and the tire isn’t subjected to sideways scrubbing as the gear locks and the airplane taxis. The other scenarios (after landing, during maintenance, or while parked) don’t trigger this extension-centering action, so the timing is tied to the gear extension that occurs after take-off.