5:00
5 minutes down — keep going?
High Reconnaissance
- Wind direction and intensity.
- Obstructions.
- Suitable landing area.
- Approach (steep or normal).
- Pattern.
- Emergency area.
Low Reconnaissance
- Wind direction and intensity.
- Anything new (wires, slope, holes, brush).
- Approach (steep, normal, or go around before ETL).
- Landing area clear (make sure for takeoff too).
Ground Reconnaissance
- Wind direction and intensity.
- Type of takeoff and route (normal or max performance).
- Emergency area.
Cautions
- Clearance between obstructions and the main rotor / tail rotor system.
- Recognition of wires due to difficulty in recognizing them (poles, towers).
- Obstructions cause turbulence.
- Availability of a forced landing area and go around.
- Approach too steep or too shallow.
- Emergency area.
- Proper landing spot.
- Turbulence and wind effect.
- Take off and climb technique.