PATHFINDER HLZ STUDY GUIDE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS.
VERIFIED 2025/2026.
What is the reference for Helicopter Landing Zones? - ANS FM 3-99 Airborne and Air Assault
Operations
What are the consideration factors that contribute to the process of HLZ site selection? -
ANS Tactical Considerations and Technical Considerations
Technical considerations are the responsibility of who? - ANS The Pathfinder
What are the seven selection factors in reference to technical considerations? - ANS Size 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)? - ANS (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? - ANS 25
Meters (Army Skid A/C)
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,What is the diameter of the TDP for the AH-1W/Z, UH-1N/Y? - ANS 35 Meters (Marine Corps
Skid A/C)
What is the diameter of the TDP for the AH-64, UH-60A/LM, and SH-60? - ANS 50 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)? - ANS 80
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? - ANS 100
Meters
What is the diameter of the TDP for all Slingload A/C using longlines? - ANS 125 Meters
What is the diameter of the TDP for all Slingload A/C (Nighttime), A/C w/ Sling Load utilizing
Land-Safe System? - ANS 150 Meters
What is the TDP? - ANS Touch Down Point, the area you have cleared of obstacles
Do Slingload A/C fly in formation? - ANS No
When referencing marking the TDP, what does the TDP distance and the crowsfoot method tell
you? - ANS TDP 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? - ANS Mark
with light
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, What are the nine standard A/C formations? - ANS Trail, 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? - ANS The diamond
How is the TDP distance measured? - ANS From center to center of the TDPs
What is the distance between aircraft in flight during the day? - ANS 2 to 3 rotor disks
What is the distance between aircraft in flight during night? - ANS 3 to 5 rotor disks
Which formation do you double the distance between the first and third A/C? - ANS Heavy
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? - ANS True
What is the formula to determine the needed usable length and width of the HLS? (TRIANGLE) -
ANS SIN(45)XDistance
What is needed usable length and for 4 CH A/C flying in trail formation? - ANS 240 Meters
What are the ideal surface conditions for a HLS? - ANS Firm enough to support the weight of
the aircraft and free of loose sand, snow, or debris
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS.
VERIFIED 2025/2026.
What is the reference for Helicopter Landing Zones? - ANS FM 3-99 Airborne and Air Assault
Operations
What are the consideration factors that contribute to the process of HLZ site selection? -
ANS Tactical Considerations and Technical Considerations
Technical considerations are the responsibility of who? - ANS The Pathfinder
What are the seven selection factors in reference to technical considerations? - ANS Size 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)? - ANS (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? - ANS 25
Meters (Army Skid A/C)
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,What is the diameter of the TDP for the AH-1W/Z, UH-1N/Y? - ANS 35 Meters (Marine Corps
Skid A/C)
What is the diameter of the TDP for the AH-64, UH-60A/LM, and SH-60? - ANS 50 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)? - ANS 80
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? - ANS 100
Meters
What is the diameter of the TDP for all Slingload A/C using longlines? - ANS 125 Meters
What is the diameter of the TDP for all Slingload A/C (Nighttime), A/C w/ Sling Load utilizing
Land-Safe System? - ANS 150 Meters
What is the TDP? - ANS Touch Down Point, the area you have cleared of obstacles
Do Slingload A/C fly in formation? - ANS No
When referencing marking the TDP, what does the TDP distance and the crowsfoot method tell
you? - ANS TDP 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? - ANS Mark
with light
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, What are the nine standard A/C formations? - ANS Trail, 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? - ANS The diamond
How is the TDP distance measured? - ANS From center to center of the TDPs
What is the distance between aircraft in flight during the day? - ANS 2 to 3 rotor disks
What is the distance between aircraft in flight during night? - ANS 3 to 5 rotor disks
Which formation do you double the distance between the first and third A/C? - ANS Heavy
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? - ANS True
What is the formula to determine the needed usable length and width of the HLS? (TRIANGLE) -
ANS SIN(45)XDistance
What is needed usable length and for 4 CH A/C flying in trail formation? - ANS 240 Meters
What are the ideal surface conditions for a HLS? - ANS Firm enough to support the weight of
the aircraft and free of loose sand, snow, or debris
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
