The invention relates to a skid-type landing gear (1) for a helicopter (2) comprising bow shaped crosstubes (10-13) directed symmetrically towards a left- and a right-hand side of a longitudinal mid axis (9) of the helicopter (2) with respective skids (14, 15) at outboard ends thereof and main beams (5-8) in a fuselage (4), the crosstubes (10-13) being connected to the main beams (5-8) via supports (16-23) fixed to the main beams (5-8). The skid-type landing gear (1) is retractable. A method for operating such a skid-type landing gear (1) for a helicopter (2) is provided.