Pathfinder HLZ Study Guide
What is the reference for Helicopter Landing Zones? - answerFM 3-99 Airborne and Air
Assault Operations
What are the consideration factors that contribute to the process of HLZ site selection? -
answerTactical Considerations and Technical Considerations
Technical considerations are the responsibility of who? - answerThe Pathfinder
What are the seven selection factors in reference to technical considerations? -
answerSize of HLP (OR TDP), Landing formations, surface conditions, obstacles,
approach and departure routes, atmospheric conditions, and type of load
What are the factors that are the basis for size of the HLP (TDP)? - answer(SNAP)
Size/type of A/C, Night or Day operations, Atmospheric Conditions, Pilot/unit proficiency
What is the diameter of the TDP for the OH-6, OH-58, MH-6, AH-6, and UH-72A? -
answer25 Meters (Army Skid A/C)
What is the diameter of the TDP for the AH-1W/Z, UH-1N/Y? - answer35 Meters
(Marine Corps Skid A/C)
What is the diameter of the TDP for the AH-64, UH-60A/LM, and SH-60? - answer50
Meters (All 60 series A/C)
What is the diameter of the TDP for all CH A/C to include the MV/CV-22B (OSPREY)? -
answer80 Meters (ALL CH A/C)
What is the diameter of the TDP for ALL slingload A/C (Daytime), A/C of unknown origin
(or unreported what is enroute to you), A/C in formation utilizing Land-Safe System? -
answer100 Meters
What is the diameter of the TDP for all Slingload A/C using longlines? - answer125
Meters
What is the diameter of the TDP for all Slingload A/C (Nighttime), A/C w/ Sling Load
utilizing Land-Safe System? - answer150 Meters
What is the TDP? - answerTouch Down Point, the area you have cleared of obstacles
, Do Slingload A/C fly in formation? - answerNo
When referencing marking the TDP, what does the TDP distance and the crowsfoot
method tell you? - answerTDP tells how far to walk, and crowsfoot tells what direction to
walk
If establishing a TDP between the hours of 1800 and 0559, what must you do? -
answerMark with light
What are the nine standard A/C formations? - answerTrail, staggered trail left,
staggered trail right, echelon left, echelon right, heavy left, heavy right, diamond (MOST
SECURE ON THE GROUND), and vee
Which A/C formation is the most secure on the ground? - answerThe diamond
How is the TDP distance measured? - answerFrom center to center of the TDPs
What is the distance between aircraft in flight during the day? - answer2 to 3 rotor disks
What is the distance between aircraft in flight during night? - answer3 to 5 rotor disks
Which formation do you double the distance between the first and third A/C? -
answerHeavy left and heavy right
True or false. You will always clear the area for the ghost ship (in heavy left or heavy
right) but you do not mark it? - answerTrue
What is the formula to determine the needed usable length and width of the HLS?
(TRIANGLE) - answerSIN(45)XDistance
What is needed usable length and for 4 CH A/C flying in trail formation? - answer240
Meters
What are the ideal surface conditions for a HLS? - answerFirm enough to support the
weight of the aircraft and free of loose sand, snow, or debris
What is a way to determine the firmness of the HLS surface? - answerAlabama boot
stomp, heel cannot sink more than 2 inches
What are the Four "R"s of obstacles near the site? (anything that is 18 inches high,
wide, or deep) - answerRemove, Reduce, Red (mark in red), Radio (advise pilot)
What is considered a surface obstacle in addition to the Four "R"s? - answerGround
slope
What is the reference for Helicopter Landing Zones? - answerFM 3-99 Airborne and Air
Assault Operations
What are the consideration factors that contribute to the process of HLZ site selection? -
answerTactical Considerations and Technical Considerations
Technical considerations are the responsibility of who? - answerThe Pathfinder
What are the seven selection factors in reference to technical considerations? -
answerSize of HLP (OR TDP), Landing formations, surface conditions, obstacles,
approach and departure routes, atmospheric conditions, and type of load
What are the factors that are the basis for size of the HLP (TDP)? - answer(SNAP)
Size/type of A/C, Night or Day operations, Atmospheric Conditions, Pilot/unit proficiency
What is the diameter of the TDP for the OH-6, OH-58, MH-6, AH-6, and UH-72A? -
answer25 Meters (Army Skid A/C)
What is the diameter of the TDP for the AH-1W/Z, UH-1N/Y? - answer35 Meters
(Marine Corps Skid A/C)
What is the diameter of the TDP for the AH-64, UH-60A/LM, and SH-60? - answer50
Meters (All 60 series A/C)
What is the diameter of the TDP for all CH A/C to include the MV/CV-22B (OSPREY)? -
answer80 Meters (ALL CH A/C)
What is the diameter of the TDP for ALL slingload A/C (Daytime), A/C of unknown origin
(or unreported what is enroute to you), A/C in formation utilizing Land-Safe System? -
answer100 Meters
What is the diameter of the TDP for all Slingload A/C using longlines? - answer125
Meters
What is the diameter of the TDP for all Slingload A/C (Nighttime), A/C w/ Sling Load
utilizing Land-Safe System? - answer150 Meters
What is the TDP? - answerTouch Down Point, the area you have cleared of obstacles
, Do Slingload A/C fly in formation? - answerNo
When referencing marking the TDP, what does the TDP distance and the crowsfoot
method tell you? - answerTDP tells how far to walk, and crowsfoot tells what direction to
walk
If establishing a TDP between the hours of 1800 and 0559, what must you do? -
answerMark with light
What are the nine standard A/C formations? - answerTrail, staggered trail left,
staggered trail right, echelon left, echelon right, heavy left, heavy right, diamond (MOST
SECURE ON THE GROUND), and vee
Which A/C formation is the most secure on the ground? - answerThe diamond
How is the TDP distance measured? - answerFrom center to center of the TDPs
What is the distance between aircraft in flight during the day? - answer2 to 3 rotor disks
What is the distance between aircraft in flight during night? - answer3 to 5 rotor disks
Which formation do you double the distance between the first and third A/C? -
answerHeavy left and heavy right
True or false. You will always clear the area for the ghost ship (in heavy left or heavy
right) but you do not mark it? - answerTrue
What is the formula to determine the needed usable length and width of the HLS?
(TRIANGLE) - answerSIN(45)XDistance
What is needed usable length and for 4 CH A/C flying in trail formation? - answer240
Meters
What are the ideal surface conditions for a HLS? - answerFirm enough to support the
weight of the aircraft and free of loose sand, snow, or debris
What is a way to determine the firmness of the HLS surface? - answerAlabama boot
stomp, heel cannot sink more than 2 inches
What are the Four "R"s of obstacles near the site? (anything that is 18 inches high,
wide, or deep) - answerRemove, Reduce, Red (mark in red), Radio (advise pilot)
What is considered a surface obstacle in addition to the Four "R"s? - answerGround
slope
