Helicopter Landing Zone (LZ) Guidelines

On-scene emergency responders must follow these landing zone guidelines* to ensure the safety of their peers, the patient and the Life Flight crew.

Selecting an On-Scene LZ

First, determine if the area is large enough to land Life Flight safely. The landing surface should be flat and firm and free of debris that could blow into the rotor system.

The touchdown area for the helicopter should be 75 feet x 75 feet during the day and 125 feet x 125 feet at night.

The landing site should be clear of people, vehicles, trees, poles, wires, posts, stumps, brush and large rocks.

Consider the wind direction. Helicopters land and take off into the wind.

Mark the touchdown area with five lights (one in each corner and one indicating wind direction).

Ground Guide

You may be required to act as the ground guide to help Life Flight land safely. Wear eye protection and stand with your back to the wind and your arms raised over your head to indicate the landing direction.

As the helicopter turns into the wind and begins to descend, direct the approach using approved hand signals. Stand far enough from the touchdown area that you can maintain eye contact with the pilot.

During Landing

Keep spectators at least 200 feet from the touchdown area.

Keep emergency service personnel at least 100 feet away from the touchdown area.

Those who work near the helicopter must wear eye protection. Those wearing helmets should make sure the chin straps are securely fastened.

Have fire crews (if available) standing by. If the touchdown area is dusty, have firefighters wet down the area.

At night, turn off all non-essential lights and make sure any spotlights, floodlights and hand lights used to define the touchdown area are not pointed toward the helicopter. Such white lights temporarily blind pilots. Red lights, however, do not affect pilots’ vision and serve as helpful markers for accident scenes.

Assisting the Crew

Once Life Flight has landed, do not approach the helicopter until the crew communicates to you that it is safe to do so.

Be prepared to provide security for the helicopter, preventing anyone outside the crew from approaching the aircraft.

The crew will select two or three personnel to help load the patient into the helicopter. When approaching or departing the aircraft, remain aware of the tail rotor and follow the crew’s directions.

General Helicopter Safety Rules

Never approach the helicopter from the rear. Always approach and depart the aircraft from the front so you and the pilot can see each other.

Approach the helicopter in a crouching position to avoid the main rotor, which winds can force downward.

If the helicopter has landed on a slope, approach the aircraft from the down-slope side.

When Life Flight is loaded and ready for takeoff, keep the departure path free of vehicles and spectators.

* From the National EMS Pilots Association