Which flap setting is used to brake the plane, to lose altitude quickly, such as when approaching a runway?

• A. No flaps
• B. One flap step
• C. Two flaps steps
• D. Three flaps steps

Answer: (C)

Flaps change the wing’s lift and drag characteristics. Extending flaps increases camber and wing area, which lets you fly at slower speeds and also creates more drag. On approach, you want to descend at a steeper path while still maintaining enough airspeed and controllability. A moderate flap setting adds enough drag to slow you down and help you lose altitude more quickly, without reducing airspeed too much or making control difficult. Two flap steps provides that balance: more drag than one step for a quicker descent and deceleration, but not as much as the higher settings would, which can overly hinder controllability or require more power to maintain the approach. No flaps would result in a shallower approach with higher speed, while the maximum flap settings can introduce excessive drag and pitch changes, making the approach harder to manage.