What activates the aural landing gear warning tone?

The aural landing gear warning tone is activated when the gear handle is not in the DOWN position while the power control lever (PCL) is below a mid-range position. This condition is crucial for ensuring safety during landing, as it alerts the pilot that the landing gear is not properly configured for touchdown. When the PCL is low, it typically indicates that the aircraft could be in a landing approach, making it imperative for the gear to be down and locked. The warning serves as a safeguard against accidental landings without the gear extended, which could result in catastrophic outcomes.

In contrast, the other options describe scenarios that do not meet the criteria for activating the aural warning. For example, weight on wheels with the gear handle UP does not trigger the warning because it typically pertains to a condition when the aircraft is already on the ground and therefore not concerning for an in-flight landing configuration. Similarly, having flaps down or in the process of deploying the landing gear does not signal the need for the aural warning tone, as the primary focus of the warning system is to ensure that the landing gear is adequately set for landing in conjunction with engine power settings.