Para entrar, o nariz tem que ser fisicamente levantado antes que o piloto possa embarcar na aeronave :
When the aircraft is parked, the NLG is retracted and the aircraft rests on the bumper at the front of the aircraft, in what is described as the 'kneeled' position.
Extension of the NLG requires the front of the aircraft to be physically raised, after which the NLG extension system is operated from the cockpit.
To begin the NLG extension, a handle in the cockpit is turned in he extend direction. This handle is connected to a shaft that turns a worm gear and crown wheel, and the rotation of the crown wheel drives the actuating rms of the NLG in the down direction. When the NLG is extended, an extra 1.5 turns of the handle causes the crown wheel to drive the actuating arms over-centre, which locks the gear in the fully down position.
Depois disso, o piloto embarca na aeronave. Em algumas aeronaves, os atuadores lineares parecem ter sido adaptados para esse fim :
In recent years the application of general purpose, 12 volt, linear actuators came into use for electrical actuation of the nose gear with the airplane loaded.
With the linear actuator the airplane can be parked nose down for stability, boarded (in the nose down position) and raised by the push of a button.
Como mencionado acima, este projeto foi adotado para estabilidade. Como o motor está na parte traseira, se o piloto não estiver na aeronave, ele pode tombar para trás, danificando a hélice. Isso também funciona como um freio de estacionamento.