What is the arm signal used to indicate landing helicopters?

What is the arm signal used to indicate landing helicopters?

• A. Arms crossed pointing down
• B. Rotate hand above head
• C. Extend both arms in direction of take off
• D. Point to the ground with one finger

Answer: (D)

When guiding a helicopter to land, the goal is to give a clear, unambiguous cue that points to the exact spot where touchdown should occur. Pointing to the ground with a single finger provides a simple, highly visible signal that communicates “land here” to the pilot, helping them place the helicopter precisely on the designated landing area even in challenging conditions. The other signals serve different purposes—whether indicating a hover, a takeoff direction, or another maneuver—so they don’t convey the specific landing instruction as directly as a single-point-to-ground gesture does.

When guiding a helicopter to land, the goal is to give a clear, unambiguous cue that points to the exact spot where touchdown should occur. Pointing to the ground with a single finger provides a simple, highly visible signal that communicates “land here” to the pilot, helping them place the helicopter precisely on the designated landing area even in challenging conditions.

The other signals serve different purposes—whether indicating a hover, a takeoff direction, or another maneuver—so they don’t convey the specific landing instruction as directly as a single-point-to-ground gesture does.