Which component is crucial for detecting the landing gear's deployment status?

The squat switch plays a vital role in detecting the landing gear's deployment status. It is a type of switch that is strategically mounted on the aircraft's main landing gear. The primary function of the squat switch is to sense whether the landing gear is in the down and locked position or not. When the aircraft is on the ground, the squat switch is activated, allowing various systems to acknowledge that the gear is deployed.

This feedback is essential for ensuring that the landing gear is appropriately extended during landing and for enabling systems such as ground warnings and indicators. If the gear were not properly deployed, the squat switch would not be activated, and this could trigger warning alarms or prevent further actions in the cockpit, such as gear retraction.

Other components mentioned, like the gear lever, landing gear monitor, and hydraulic actuator, serve different purposes. The gear lever is used by pilots to command the gear to extend or retract, while the landing gear monitor tracks the overall status of the landing gear system. The hydraulic actuator is responsible for moving the landing gear mechanism itself but does not directly indicate its status. Therefore, the squat switch is specifically crucial for detecting and confirming the deployment status of the landing gear.