The Protocol Programme: The Electric Landing Gear (ELG) Project

Aircraft landing gear will swap its heavy, leak-prone hydraulic systems for electric motors that handle braking, steering, and wheel extension and retraction. This matters because current hydraulic landing gear is expensive to maintain, prone to fluid leaks, and limits how often an aircraft can fly. Airlines lose revenue when planes sit on the ground for unscheduled repairs. The project targets the landing gear—one of the most mechanically stressed and safety-critical parts of any aircraft—where replacing hydraulics with electric actuation has been technically difficult due to extreme loads, vibration, and temperature swings. If the Electric Landing Gear Project succeeds, airlines could see lower maintenance costs and higher aircraft availability—meaning fewer delays and more flights per day. The technology would also reduce the weight and complexity of landing gear systems, cutting fuel burn and carbon emissions. For passengers, the change would be invisible, but for the aviation industry, it could quietly improve the economics and environmental footprint of every flight that takes off and lands.