Which statement about slopes of 15+ degrees is true?

Which statement about slopes of 15+ degrees is true?

• A. All A/C can land
• B. All wheels can land
• C. Pilot discretion applies to 15+ degree slopes
• D. Any aircraft can land anywhere

Answer: (C)

When a landing surface is 15 degrees or steeper, it depends on the pilot’s judgment whether a safe touchdown is possible. That’s because steep slopes change how the aircraft handles on the ground: weight shifts with the slope, braking and directional control become more difficult, rotor wash and stability behave differently, and there’s a higher risk of tipping or loss of control if you push too far. The pilot must weigh factors such as aircraft weight and balance, power margins, surface conditions, wind, and obstacles, and decide if a safe landing can be made or if a go-around or a different landing site is required. This is why the statement that pilot discretion applies to 15+ degree slopes is the correct point. The other notions—that all aircraft can land on such slopes, that all wheels can land, or that any aircraft can land anywhere—don’t fit because steep terrain introduces limits based on aircraft capabilities and conditions, and a safe landing can’t be guaranteed for every scenario.

When a landing surface is 15 degrees or steeper, it depends on the pilot’s judgment whether a safe touchdown is possible. That’s because steep slopes change how the aircraft handles on the ground: weight shifts with the slope, braking and directional control become more difficult, rotor wash and stability behave differently, and there’s a higher risk of tipping or loss of control if you push too far. The pilot must weigh factors such as aircraft weight and balance, power margins, surface conditions, wind, and obstacles, and decide if a safe landing can be made or if a go-around or a different landing site is required. This is why the statement that pilot discretion applies to 15+ degree slopes is the correct point. The other notions—that all aircraft can land on such slopes, that all wheels can land, or that any aircraft can land anywhere—don’t fit because steep terrain introduces limits based on aircraft capabilities and conditions, and a safe landing can’t be guaranteed for every scenario.