What are the Wheel Brakes?

• A. Provide braking to all wheels simultaneously.
• B. Provide braking for the nose gear only.
• C. Provide braking for the main gear wheels without anti-skid.
• D. Provide modulated individual wheel-controlled braking combined with an anti-skid system to prevent wheel skid.

Answer: (D)

Wheel brakes are a braking system that applies hydraulic pressure to the main landing gear brakes, allowing each wheel to be braked independently and with controlled force. The important part is modulation: the pilot’s brake input drives adjustable pressure at each wheel rather than a single, uniform stop for all wheels. Wheel-speed sensors feed the system so it can detect slipping and adjust pressure accordingly. The anti-skid system constantly monitors tire speed and braking forces, reducing pressure on a wheel that begins to skid to prevent tire damage and to preserve steering control. This combination lets you stop effectively on different runway conditions, minimizes tire wear, and keeps the aircraft controllable during deceleration. That’s why wheel brakes are described as providing modulated individual wheel-controlled braking with anti-skid to prevent wheel skid.