What constitutes a safe hover exit from an LZ?

• A. Exit with rotor wash directed at personnel nearby.
• B. Push off immediately to maximize speed out.
• C. Maintain hover stability, clear rotor wash, guide personnel away with signals, and depart along the planned path once safe clearance is achieved.
• D. Signal only after rotor wash has completely ceased.

Answer: (C)

Safe hover exit centers on a controlled, predictable departure that keeps everyone out of danger as you move. Start by holding a stable hover so the helicopter doesn’t drift or surge, then manage the rotor downwash so it doesn’t blow dust, debris, or people around you. Use clear signals to guide personnel away from the exit path and toward safe positions, ensuring they’re clear before you begin moving. Only after you have verified that the area is clear along the planned exit route should you depart, staying on that path until you’re safely clear of the LZ.

Exiting while directing rotor wash at nearby personnel is dangerous, pushing off immediately to gain speed ignores the need for clearance, and signaling after the rotor wash has stopped risks delaying safety and leaving people in the rotor wash or debris.