When will the landing gear position warning system provide a warning in the cockpit?

The landing gear position warning system is designed to alert the flight crew under specific conditions to ensure safe operation during approach and landing. The correct answer indicates that a warning will be issued when the power levers are retarded and the landing gear is in transit. This scenario is critical because it helps prevent a situation where the landing gear may not be down and locked while the aircraft is configured for landing.

Retarding the power levers typically signifies that the flight crew is preparing for landing, which should coincide with the landing gear being extended. If the landing gear is still in transit when the power levers are pulled back, it creates a risk of touching down without the gear in the proper position, which could lead to a catastrophic failure or accident. Therefore, the landing gear position warning system activates to alert the crew, ensuring they can take immediate corrective action.

Other scenarios, such as when the gear is fully retracted or when the aircraft is below a certain altitude, do not provide the necessary context related to the aircraft's approach configuration and are less critical in terms of immediate safety alerts. The same goes for the scenario where the landing gear is permanently locked; while it indicates a secure condition, it does not relate to a potential oversight in landing configuration.