PATHFINDER HLZ PRACTICE TEXT 2026
COMPLETE ONE LINER QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT SOLUTIONS
◉ What is the diameter and what aircraft belong as a Size 2 HLP?
Answer: 35 meters ; UH-1N/Y and AH-1W/Z
◉ What is the diameter and what aircraft belong as a Size 3 HLP?
Answer: 50 meters ; UH60A/L/M, SH60, AH-64
◉ What is the diameter and what aircraft belong as a Size 4 HLP?
Answer: 80 meters ; All CH A/C, to include MV/CV-22B (Osprey)
◉ What is the diameter and what aircraft belong as a Size 5 HLP?
Answer: 100 meters ; All sling load A/C during daytime, all
unknown/foreign A/C, and A/C using land-safe
◉ What is the diameter and what aircraft belong as a Size 6 HLP?
Answer: 125 meters ; All sling load A/C using long lines
◉ What is the diameter and what aircraft belong as a Size 7 HLP?
Answer: 150 meters ; All sling load A/C during nighttime and all
sling load A/C using land-safe
,◉ When different aircraft are in formation, which aircraft would you
choose to make the size of the HLP's for at the HLZ? Answer: Always
pace off of the largest aircraft/largest size
◉ What are the nine standard aircraft formations? Answer: 1) Trail
2) Staggered Trail Left
3) Staggered Trail Right
4) Echelon left
5) Echelon right
6) Heavy left
7) Heavy right
8) Vee
9) Diamond
◉ Which aircraft formation is the most secure? Answer: Diamond
◉ Surface conditions at the HLS should be? Answer: 1) Firm enough
to support the weight of the aircraft
2) Free of loose sand, snow, or debris (brown-out or white-out
conditions)
*Note* Add environmental considerations for cold weather, desert,
and mountains
,◉ In terms of the surface conditions, how should Pathfinders choose
the HLS? Answer: a) Choose a hard surface: needs to support weight
of A/C, avoids excessive dust or blowing snow; must allow a fully
loaded helicopter to land, restart, and leave again, all without
sinking into the ground; if a surface does not meet these conditions,
then an advisory must be given to A/C to terminate at a hover or
touch down while under power. IF mission does not allow this then a
new site must be selected.
b) Clear to level ground: Pathfinders must clear entire TDP of loose
material, debris that rotors can stir up and injure
personnel/Aircraft. They need not clear grass shorter than 1 foot, as
long as field is level. They can cut down on dirt by wetting it. If
debris cannot be cleared and there is potential for brown-out/white-
out conditions, then Pathfinders must provide advisories and radio
guidance as required.
◉ What are obstacles? Answer: Obstacles are anything that are 18"
high, wide, or deep
*A landing point will never contain and obstacle. All obstacles will be
removed, reduced, or marked.
◉ What are the Four R's when referring to obstacles? Answer:
Remove
Reduce
, Red (mark in red)
Radio (advise pilot)
*Ground Slope can be considered an obstacle*
◉ In terms of a slope, how should a Pathfinder always attempt to
land an A/C? Answer: Always attempt to land the aircraft up-slope
or side-slope. NEVER land an aircraft down-slope if at all possible.
◉ What are the ground slope restrictions? Answer: 1) All A/C can
land where ground slope measures 7 degrees or less and no
advisory is required
2) When the slope exceeds 7 degrees, OH & UH A/C that utilize skids
for landing must terminate at a hover
3) When the slope measures between 7 and 15 degrees, large UH &
CH A/C that utilize wheels for landing, are issued an advisory and
they will land upslope
4) If the slope exceeds 15 degrees, all A/C must terminate at a hover
◉ In what unit of measurement of ground slope measured in?
Answer: degrees
◉ What is the slope formula? Answer: (difference in
elevation/horizontal distance)X57.3
COMPLETE ONE LINER QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT SOLUTIONS
◉ What is the diameter and what aircraft belong as a Size 2 HLP?
Answer: 35 meters ; UH-1N/Y and AH-1W/Z
◉ What is the diameter and what aircraft belong as a Size 3 HLP?
Answer: 50 meters ; UH60A/L/M, SH60, AH-64
◉ What is the diameter and what aircraft belong as a Size 4 HLP?
Answer: 80 meters ; All CH A/C, to include MV/CV-22B (Osprey)
◉ What is the diameter and what aircraft belong as a Size 5 HLP?
Answer: 100 meters ; All sling load A/C during daytime, all
unknown/foreign A/C, and A/C using land-safe
◉ What is the diameter and what aircraft belong as a Size 6 HLP?
Answer: 125 meters ; All sling load A/C using long lines
◉ What is the diameter and what aircraft belong as a Size 7 HLP?
Answer: 150 meters ; All sling load A/C during nighttime and all
sling load A/C using land-safe
,◉ When different aircraft are in formation, which aircraft would you
choose to make the size of the HLP's for at the HLZ? Answer: Always
pace off of the largest aircraft/largest size
◉ What are the nine standard aircraft formations? Answer: 1) Trail
2) Staggered Trail Left
3) Staggered Trail Right
4) Echelon left
5) Echelon right
6) Heavy left
7) Heavy right
8) Vee
9) Diamond
◉ Which aircraft formation is the most secure? Answer: Diamond
◉ Surface conditions at the HLS should be? Answer: 1) Firm enough
to support the weight of the aircraft
2) Free of loose sand, snow, or debris (brown-out or white-out
conditions)
*Note* Add environmental considerations for cold weather, desert,
and mountains
,◉ In terms of the surface conditions, how should Pathfinders choose
the HLS? Answer: a) Choose a hard surface: needs to support weight
of A/C, avoids excessive dust or blowing snow; must allow a fully
loaded helicopter to land, restart, and leave again, all without
sinking into the ground; if a surface does not meet these conditions,
then an advisory must be given to A/C to terminate at a hover or
touch down while under power. IF mission does not allow this then a
new site must be selected.
b) Clear to level ground: Pathfinders must clear entire TDP of loose
material, debris that rotors can stir up and injure
personnel/Aircraft. They need not clear grass shorter than 1 foot, as
long as field is level. They can cut down on dirt by wetting it. If
debris cannot be cleared and there is potential for brown-out/white-
out conditions, then Pathfinders must provide advisories and radio
guidance as required.
◉ What are obstacles? Answer: Obstacles are anything that are 18"
high, wide, or deep
*A landing point will never contain and obstacle. All obstacles will be
removed, reduced, or marked.
◉ What are the Four R's when referring to obstacles? Answer:
Remove
Reduce
, Red (mark in red)
Radio (advise pilot)
*Ground Slope can be considered an obstacle*
◉ In terms of a slope, how should a Pathfinder always attempt to
land an A/C? Answer: Always attempt to land the aircraft up-slope
or side-slope. NEVER land an aircraft down-slope if at all possible.
◉ What are the ground slope restrictions? Answer: 1) All A/C can
land where ground slope measures 7 degrees or less and no
advisory is required
2) When the slope exceeds 7 degrees, OH & UH A/C that utilize skids
for landing must terminate at a hover
3) When the slope measures between 7 and 15 degrees, large UH &
CH A/C that utilize wheels for landing, are issued an advisory and
they will land upslope
4) If the slope exceeds 15 degrees, all A/C must terminate at a hover
◉ In what unit of measurement of ground slope measured in?
Answer: degrees
◉ What is the slope formula? Answer: (difference in
elevation/horizontal distance)X57.3
