The transition point includes a straightaway distance of how many feet?

• A. 1,200 feet
• B. 800 feet
• C. 1,000 feet
• D. 1,500 feet

Answer: (A)

The transition point is designed with a fixed straightaway to give you a stable window to prepare for the final approach and landing on a moving deck. That 1,200-foot stretch lets you reduce airspeed, configure the helicopter (collective, pedals, pitch), and align with the landing zone while accounting for deck motion and wind. It provides enough time to establish a stabilized approach profile and ensure a smooth transition into the final, rather than making abrupt changes or trying to correct at the last moment.

Shorter straightaways would leave less room to manage speed and altitude changes and to compensate for the ship’s motion, while a much longer distance isn’t typically necessary or practical on a constrained deck. Hence 1,200 feet is the appropriate, standard straightaway for the transition.