What is the correct response if the landing gear does not show a down indication?

When the landing gear does not show a down indication, the appropriate action is to attempt a manual landing gear extension and communicate with Air Traffic Control (ATC). This response is critical for several reasons.

Firstly, the manual extension of the landing gear provides a fail-safe method to ensure that the gear deploys correctly, allowing for a safe landing. This procedure is often outlined in the aircraft's operating manual for situations where the landing gear indications are ambiguous or indicate a malfunction.

Additionally, communicating with ATC is crucial for maintaining situational awareness and ensuring that the airport and rescue services are prepared for a potential abnormal landing situation. It allows air traffic controllers to assist with information and clear other traffic from your path, which is especially important if the landing gear cannot be extended and more drastic measures must be taken.

Choosing to initiate a go-around or increasing altitude without first troubleshooting the gear issue does not address the problem at hand and could lead to unnecessary risks. Similarly, landing without the gear down is extremely unsafe and should never be considered as an option.

Overall, attempting manual extension and informing ATC allows the crew to follow established emergency procedures to enhance the safety of the flight.