Planes use skis to land on ice/snow runaway.
How can the plane brake in such conditions?
Friction must be limited to allow takeoff and aerodynamic braking are not the main contributors to the deceleration on wheel landings.
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1$\begingroup$ They must likely don't. Many wheeled aircraft are not equipped with brakes. The snow would provide resistance. The pilot would just have to account for it when landing. It might be a different story for larger aircraft but they probably have thrust reversers or propellers that can be pitched for reverse thrust $\endgroup$– TomMcWJul 26, 2016 at 17:36
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1$\begingroup$ This may be answered here, although this question is more specific so probably not a dupe, IMO $\endgroup$– PondlifeJul 26, 2016 at 19:26
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2 Answers
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You may find this manual of interest from the FAA. The short answer is that they don't have brakes like wheeled aircraft do. With sufficient runway you don't need brakes to stop a wheeled aircraft either. The airframe often provides enough drag to stop the airplane. You are generally correct that aerodynamics are not the primary method of braking, however they can in some cases be sufficient. On top of that ski operations are often flown from a frozen lake or similar area where there may be a great deal of unobstructed distance for takeoff and landing.
Some types of skis let the wheels poke through them for both snow and hard runways. In some cases the wheels may contact the ground beneath the snow and allow for traditional braking or they may be plowing through the snow providing drag.
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1$\begingroup$ Incidentally ice runways have a similar situation for aircraft with normal (wheel) landing gear: You can brake, but supposedly that just results in skidding so you're better off letting aerodynamic braking slow you down & using the brakes only for the final "stopping" bit. $\endgroup$– voretaq7Jul 26, 2016 at 18:54
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Full up elevator and retraction of the flaps increases aerodynamic drag and downforce in the skis, reducing the time and distance required to stop.
Seaplanes have the same issue.
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