Height Above Landing (HAL) is a measure used for instrument approach procedures for which type of aircraft?

• A. Balloons
• B. Helicopters
• C. Fixed-wing airplanes
• D. Gliders

Answer: (C)

Height Above Landing is the vertical distance above the landing surface used in instrument approach procedures to relate your altitude to where you’ll actually touchdown. This reference is built around the predictable, runway-centered descent profile that fixed‑wing airplanes follow on IFR approaches, so pilots can judge their clearance and when to transition to the landing phase.

Fixed‑wing approaches require a defined runway touchdown surface and stable descent geometry, which is why HAL is specific to them. Helicopters, balloons, and gliders have different landing methods and minimums that aren’t driven by the same runway‑oriented height reference, so HAL isn’t used for their instrument procedures.