Pathfinder Drop Zone Exams (Latest 2024/ 2025
Updates STUDY BUNDLE PACKAGE) 100% Correct
Questions and Verified Answers| Grade A
What is the definition of a drop zone? - ANSWERA designated area where personnel
and/or equipment are delivered by means of parachute or, in the case of certain
items, by free drop.
Who is responsible for designating the drop zone location? - ANSWERThe ground
unit commander.
A drop zone does not necessarily have to be a _______ area - ANSWERCleared
Who must be able to advise the ground unit commander on the suitability of the
drop zone? - ANSWERThe Drop Zone Support Team Leader
What does DZSTL stand for? - ANSWERDrop Zone Support Team Leader
In regards to selection factors of a drop zone, which factor is more important than
the others? - ANSWERThere is no selection factor more important than the others.
They all must be taken into consideration equally.
What are the eight drop zone selection factors? - ANSWERAirdrop airspeed, Drop
altitude, Type of Aircraft, Method of airdrop, Obstacles, Access, Adequate approach
and departure routes, Size of drop zone
For the UH-series aircraft (UH-1/UH-60) what is the planning drop speed? -
ANSWER70 KIAS
For the CH-series aircraft (CH-46/CH-47/CH-54) what is the planning drop speed? -
ANSWER90 KIAS
For the STOL aircraft (C-23 Sherpa/Casa-212/Twin Otter/OV-10/etc.) what is the
planning drop speed? - ANSWER105 KIAS
What does STOL stand for? - ANSWERShort Takeoff Landing
For C-130/C-17 (personnel/door bundles) what is the planning drop speed? -
ANSWER130 KIAS
For C-130 (CDS/Equipment/Combination) what is the planning drop speed? -
ANSWER140 KIAS
For C-17 (CDS/Equipment/Combination) what is the planning drop speed? Optimum
speed? - ANSWER140 KIAS
,For C-17 Heavy Equipment what is the panning drop speed? - ANSWER150 KIAS
What is the difference between knots and KIAS? - ANSWERKnots are measured
relative to the ground, KIAS are based on the speed of air across the wings of the
aircraft
What are the airdrop airspeeds utilized for? - ANSWERCalculations for the useable
drop zone size of CARP drop zones, the planning phase of GMRS/VIRS drop zones,
and determining the forward throw for STOL and rotary-wing aircraft.
With the type of load of personnel and door bundle static line, what is the USAF
Fixed Wing airdrop airspeed with a C-130? C-17? - ANSWER130 KIAS
With the type of load Heavy Equipment, what is the USAF Fixed Wing airdrop
airspeed with a C-130? C-17? - ANSWER140 KIAS, 150 KIAS
With the type of load HSLLADS, what is the USAF Fixed Wing airdrop airspeed with a
C-130? - ANSWEREnroute Airspeed
For combination drops, use the _____ airspeed. - ANSWERHigher
Which aircraft will never drop equipment and personnel on the same pass? -
ANSWERC-17
Which formation will jumpers never drop in with the C-17? - ANSWERTrail formation
What does AGL stand for? - ANSWERAbove Ground Level
What does MSL stand for? - ANSWERMean Sea Level
How is AGL measured? - ANSWERIt is measured from the highest field elevation on
the drop zone to the elevation on the drop zone to the altitude you are dropping
your parachute suspended object or free dropped object from
How is MSL measured? How is it rounded? - ANSWERIt is measured from the altitude
the aircraft is flying relative to sea level; MSL is rounded up in increments of 50 feet
What is can the Drop Altitude be measured from? - ANSWERAGL or MSL (when
requested)
What is the Drop Altitude utilized for? How is it determined (not measured)? -
ANSWERIt is utilized in determining the amount of drift a load experiences during
descent due to the Mean Effective Winds (MEW.) It can be determined by the type
of load and/or the type of parachute (or lack thereof.)
, For rotary-wing and STOL delivery altitudes, when delivering personnel, what is the
planning AGL for day-time operations? For night-time operations? - ANSWER1500
Feet AGL
For rotary-wing and STOL delivery altitudes, when delivering door bundles, what is
the planning AGL for day-time operations? For night-time operations? - ANSWER300
feet AGL; 500 feet AGL
For rotary-wing and STOL delivery altitudes, when delivering LCLA, what is the
planning AGL for day-time operations? For night-time operations? - ANSWER150 feet
AGL
If the rotary-wing/STOL aircraft is flying _____ or faster the aircraft can drop
personnel at _____ AGL (minimum). Not to include ___________. - ANSWER90 KIAS,
1250 feet, UH-series aircraft
USAF fixed wing delivery altitudes for personnel has a planned drop altitude of
what? - ANSWER1000 feet AGL
USAF fixed wing delivery altitudes for personnel has a combat operations (war) drop
altitude of what? - ANSWERAGL will be determined jointly by the Airborne and Airlift
Commanders
USAF fixed wing delivery altitudes for personnel has a tactical training (tactical
peacetime operations) drop altitude of what? - ANSWER1000 feet AGL (planning for
tactical training)
USAF fixed wing delivery altitudes for personnel has a Basic Airborne Training drop
altitude of what? - ANSWER1250 feet AGL (Planning for BAC)
USAF fixed wing delivery altitudes for personnel has a SATB-P drop altitude of what?
- ANSWER500 feet AGL (planning for SATB-P)
USAF fixed wing delivery altitudes for door bundles has a planning drop altitude of
what? - ANSWER1000 feet AGL
USAF fixed wing delivery altitudes for door bundles has what aircraft altitude if
provided a G-14 parachute for a C-130? C-17? - ANSWER300 feet AGL (minimum),
300 feet AGL
USAF fixed wing delivery altitudes for door bundles has what aircraft altitude if
provided a T-10 Cargo parachute for a C-130? C-17? - ANSWER400 feet AGL, 300 feet
AGL
CDS delivery altitudes for C-17 has a planning drop altitude of what? - ANSWER600
feet AGL
Updates STUDY BUNDLE PACKAGE) 100% Correct
Questions and Verified Answers| Grade A
What is the definition of a drop zone? - ANSWERA designated area where personnel
and/or equipment are delivered by means of parachute or, in the case of certain
items, by free drop.
Who is responsible for designating the drop zone location? - ANSWERThe ground
unit commander.
A drop zone does not necessarily have to be a _______ area - ANSWERCleared
Who must be able to advise the ground unit commander on the suitability of the
drop zone? - ANSWERThe Drop Zone Support Team Leader
What does DZSTL stand for? - ANSWERDrop Zone Support Team Leader
In regards to selection factors of a drop zone, which factor is more important than
the others? - ANSWERThere is no selection factor more important than the others.
They all must be taken into consideration equally.
What are the eight drop zone selection factors? - ANSWERAirdrop airspeed, Drop
altitude, Type of Aircraft, Method of airdrop, Obstacles, Access, Adequate approach
and departure routes, Size of drop zone
For the UH-series aircraft (UH-1/UH-60) what is the planning drop speed? -
ANSWER70 KIAS
For the CH-series aircraft (CH-46/CH-47/CH-54) what is the planning drop speed? -
ANSWER90 KIAS
For the STOL aircraft (C-23 Sherpa/Casa-212/Twin Otter/OV-10/etc.) what is the
planning drop speed? - ANSWER105 KIAS
What does STOL stand for? - ANSWERShort Takeoff Landing
For C-130/C-17 (personnel/door bundles) what is the planning drop speed? -
ANSWER130 KIAS
For C-130 (CDS/Equipment/Combination) what is the planning drop speed? -
ANSWER140 KIAS
For C-17 (CDS/Equipment/Combination) what is the planning drop speed? Optimum
speed? - ANSWER140 KIAS
,For C-17 Heavy Equipment what is the panning drop speed? - ANSWER150 KIAS
What is the difference between knots and KIAS? - ANSWERKnots are measured
relative to the ground, KIAS are based on the speed of air across the wings of the
aircraft
What are the airdrop airspeeds utilized for? - ANSWERCalculations for the useable
drop zone size of CARP drop zones, the planning phase of GMRS/VIRS drop zones,
and determining the forward throw for STOL and rotary-wing aircraft.
With the type of load of personnel and door bundle static line, what is the USAF
Fixed Wing airdrop airspeed with a C-130? C-17? - ANSWER130 KIAS
With the type of load Heavy Equipment, what is the USAF Fixed Wing airdrop
airspeed with a C-130? C-17? - ANSWER140 KIAS, 150 KIAS
With the type of load HSLLADS, what is the USAF Fixed Wing airdrop airspeed with a
C-130? - ANSWEREnroute Airspeed
For combination drops, use the _____ airspeed. - ANSWERHigher
Which aircraft will never drop equipment and personnel on the same pass? -
ANSWERC-17
Which formation will jumpers never drop in with the C-17? - ANSWERTrail formation
What does AGL stand for? - ANSWERAbove Ground Level
What does MSL stand for? - ANSWERMean Sea Level
How is AGL measured? - ANSWERIt is measured from the highest field elevation on
the drop zone to the elevation on the drop zone to the altitude you are dropping
your parachute suspended object or free dropped object from
How is MSL measured? How is it rounded? - ANSWERIt is measured from the altitude
the aircraft is flying relative to sea level; MSL is rounded up in increments of 50 feet
What is can the Drop Altitude be measured from? - ANSWERAGL or MSL (when
requested)
What is the Drop Altitude utilized for? How is it determined (not measured)? -
ANSWERIt is utilized in determining the amount of drift a load experiences during
descent due to the Mean Effective Winds (MEW.) It can be determined by the type
of load and/or the type of parachute (or lack thereof.)
, For rotary-wing and STOL delivery altitudes, when delivering personnel, what is the
planning AGL for day-time operations? For night-time operations? - ANSWER1500
Feet AGL
For rotary-wing and STOL delivery altitudes, when delivering door bundles, what is
the planning AGL for day-time operations? For night-time operations? - ANSWER300
feet AGL; 500 feet AGL
For rotary-wing and STOL delivery altitudes, when delivering LCLA, what is the
planning AGL for day-time operations? For night-time operations? - ANSWER150 feet
AGL
If the rotary-wing/STOL aircraft is flying _____ or faster the aircraft can drop
personnel at _____ AGL (minimum). Not to include ___________. - ANSWER90 KIAS,
1250 feet, UH-series aircraft
USAF fixed wing delivery altitudes for personnel has a planned drop altitude of
what? - ANSWER1000 feet AGL
USAF fixed wing delivery altitudes for personnel has a combat operations (war) drop
altitude of what? - ANSWERAGL will be determined jointly by the Airborne and Airlift
Commanders
USAF fixed wing delivery altitudes for personnel has a tactical training (tactical
peacetime operations) drop altitude of what? - ANSWER1000 feet AGL (planning for
tactical training)
USAF fixed wing delivery altitudes for personnel has a Basic Airborne Training drop
altitude of what? - ANSWER1250 feet AGL (Planning for BAC)
USAF fixed wing delivery altitudes for personnel has a SATB-P drop altitude of what?
- ANSWER500 feet AGL (planning for SATB-P)
USAF fixed wing delivery altitudes for door bundles has a planning drop altitude of
what? - ANSWER1000 feet AGL
USAF fixed wing delivery altitudes for door bundles has what aircraft altitude if
provided a G-14 parachute for a C-130? C-17? - ANSWER300 feet AGL (minimum),
300 feet AGL
USAF fixed wing delivery altitudes for door bundles has what aircraft altitude if
provided a T-10 Cargo parachute for a C-130? C-17? - ANSWER400 feet AGL, 300 feet
AGL
CDS delivery altitudes for C-17 has a planning drop altitude of what? - ANSWER600
feet AGL
