To separate a departing helicopter from an arriving helicopter, ensure the departure does not take off until the arrival has ____________.

• A. taxied off the landing area
• B. cleared the runway
• C. landed
• D. departed

Answer: (A)

The idea is to keep the landing area clear for safety when a helicopter is taking off. Before a departing helicopter lifts off, the arriving helicopter should move away from the landing area so the takeoff path isn’t in the rotor wash or flight path of the other helicopter. Waiting until the arrival has taxied off the landing area ensures the ground space is truly clear and reduces the risk of interference or collision during liftoff.

If the arrival has merely landed, it might still be occupying or partially blocking the landing area, and rotor wash or tail-rotor clearance could affect the departing helicopter. Clearing the area by taxiing off is a clearer, safer condition than just “landed.” The other options don’t fit typical helicopter ground-separation practices: “cleared the runway” uses a term more associated with fixed-wing operations and isn’t the right context here, and “departed” would mean the departure has already occurred, which defeats the separation goal.