personnel qualification standard (pqs) - I Marine Expeditionary ...

Tactical Measures 116
blades. Table 4-1 provides the recommend landing zone diameters for different
types of helicopters.
Ideally, each LZ/PZ is as level as possible, and free of major obstacles that might
obstruct landings or takeoffs (e.g., tall trees, telephone/power lines). Plans must
be made to mark or identify obstacles than cannot be removed in order to aid the
aircrew’s ability to safely land the aircraft. The ground itself must be firm enough
to prevent bogging down, otherwise aircraft may have to hover during loading or
unloading operations.
The site must be free of heavy dust, loose snow, logs, rocks, or dry grass.
Although level ground is preferable, some areas that can support the helicopter
will not be level. As a planning rule, LZs with slopes greater than 7 degrees
require additional consideration by the AFL and AMC.
LZ/PZ entry and exit routes are chosen to ensure that takeoffs or landings can
occur over the lowest obstacles and that the direction is into the wind with
minimum crosswinds of 10 knots and tailwinds of no more than 5 knots. Wind
direction must also be considered in terms of its effect on the dust created by the
helicopter’s landing and takeoff.
The helicopter must be able to ascend or descend vertically into the LZ/PZ when
fully loaded. The landing point for each helicopter should be at a distance 10
times as far from an obstacle as the obstacle is high (see fig. 4-1).
LZs are selected using the following criteria:
o Ground commander’s concept of operations.
o LZs can be located on, near, or away from the objective, depending on the
factors of METT-T.
o The size determines how much combat power can be landed at one time.
This also determines the need for additional LZs or separation between
waves.
116-5