Vertical separation between fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters/tiltrotors is how many feet?

• A. 500 ft
• B. 2000 ft
• C. 1000 ft
• D. 300 ft

Answer: (C)

The essential idea is the safety buffer used when rotorcraft (helicopters and tiltrotors) fly near fixed-wing aircraft. To account for how quickly rotorcraft can climb or descend and for rotor wake effects, air traffic control uses a standard vertical separation of one thousand feet between these two types of aircraft. This distance gives enough time and space to react if either aircraft changes altitude unexpectedly, helping prevent close-quarters encounters and reducing wake turbulence risks.

The other options don’t fit because a smaller gap would not reliably accommodate rotorcraft’s rapid vertical movements or wake effects, while a larger gap would unnecessarily limit airspace capacity without added safety in typical operations.