Originally Posted by
FlyerJosh
A good check. I have an unwritten SOP that at 500' before touchdown I verbalize "Gear down, cleared to land." Saved me once when we weren't yet cleared landing in Canada.
What FlyerJosh said, only I would add the runway which you are cleared to land on.
I was heading to Monterey the same way I had done many other times. I come from the northeast and usually get a right base entry for runway 28R. With no other traffic around, I was cleared about 10 miles out to land. The instructions were right base for runway 28L. I flew the pattern, and as I was about to turn final for the right runway (as I had done numerous other times), I seemed to remember something about the word left. I asked tower to confirm my runway, and they indeed said 28L. The five minute flight since I had gotten my landing clearence almost made me land on the wrong runway.
So now, I always say "Cleared to land, 28 right, gear down." I say gear down even if I am flying a fixed gear airplane! It is a good safety check.