According to the POH, when should flaps be extended during takeoff and landing?

• A. For approaches and initial takeoff roll as recommended in the POH.
• B. During cruise.
• C. Only during engine start.
• D. During landing after touchdown.

Answer: (D)

Flaps are used to tailor lift and drag for specific phases of flight, and the POH (pilot’s operating handbook) gives the exact settings for takeoff and landing. For takeoff, you extend flaps to the setting the POH specifies for that airplane during the takeoff roll and initial climb. This reduces the takeoff speed and ground run while helping you achieve a safe climb gradient. For landing, you set the flaps to the POH-specified landing configuration before you reach the final approach and hold that setting through the approach and touchdown to increase lift at slower speeds and to provide more stable handling with appropriate drag.

Flaps are not extended during cruise, nor are they limited to engine start only. They aren’t intended to be extended after touchdown; they’re used to improve approach and takeoff performance and are retracted after the landing rollout as part of the normal post-landing procedure.