The transition point for an elevated pad/pinnacle landing is how many feet above the landing spot?

• A. 200 feet above the landing spot
• B. 100 feet above the landing spot
• C. 300 feet above the landing spot
• D. 400 feet above the landing spot

Answer: (A)

The transition point is the defined height at which you shift from the approach to a final hover when landing on an elevated pad or pinnacle. Setting this at two hundred feet above the landing spot gives a reliable, repeatable buffer to manage gusts, rotor wash, and alignment with the pad while you descend into a stable hover. If you start the transition too low, there isn’t enough time or margin to compensate for wind shifts and control inputs before contacting the pad. If you go too high, you spend more time in a hover with strong rotor wash and wind effects, increasing difficulty and risk. Therefore, two hundred feet provides the best balance of visibility, control, and safety for this maneuver.