Who selects the location of the helicopter landing sites to best support the operation?

• A. Ground unit commander
• B. Supported or Receiving Unit Commander, with advice from the aviation unit liaison officer
• C. The mission planner
• D. The pilots

Answer: (B)

The person who determines where a helicopter lands is the unit that will receive the lift—its commander—because they own the ground plan and know the mission’s priorities, security needs, and terrain constraints. They weigh factors like troop or cargo requirements, obstacle density, site accessibility, and threat environment to choose a landing zone that enables the operation to succeed safely. The aviation unit liaison officer provides the essential aviation input—aircraft performance limits, obstacle analysis, approach and departure paths, weather considerations, and airspace coordination—to ensure the chosen site is technically feasible and safe for flight. With that input, the receiving unit commander makes the final call on the landing site. The pilots assist by evaluating feasibility and executing the landing once approved, but the final selection rests with the ground unit in coordination with the aviation liaison.