What is the ideal slope for a Landing Zone (LZ) during transport operations?

• A. 10 Degrees
• B. 8 Degrees
• C. 6 Degrees
• D. 12 Degrees

Answer: (B)

A landing zone should be as level as possible because slope changes the helicopter’s attitude at touchdown and can affect stability as weight shifts and the rotor wash interacts with the ground. Eight degrees is a practical, commonly accepted limit for transport operations; it provides enough surface area for a controlled approach and touchdown while keeping the risk of tipping, drift, or debris being blown toward crew to a minimum for most helicopters. Slopes steeper than this markedly raise the chance of loss of control on contact and increase the likelihood of rotor/ground interference. When terrain allows, closer to flat is best, but eight degrees offers a safe, workable compromise when a perfectly level LZ isn’t available.