In a roll-on, at what altitude should you begin establishing a decelerative attitude?

• A. No lower than 100 feet AHO.
• B. 50 feet AGL.
• C. 200 feet AGL.
• D. 10 feet AGL.

Answer: (A)

In a roll-on, you’re shaping your energy and flight path to touch down smoothly, so you want to set up the decelerative attitude with enough margin to adjust and confirm everything you need before touchdown. Beginning the decelerative attitude no lower than 100 feet AHO gives you that margin to pitch to the decelerated configuration, trim, and manage airspeed safely while still above the landing zone. If you wait until too low—like 50 feet or 10 feet—you risk being unable to recover or make a clean adjustment if anything changes, which increases the chance of a rough touchdown. Starting earlier, such as at 200 feet AGL, isn’t as efficient for this maneuver because it delays the deceleration phase too long, potentially affecting energy management and alignment. So, 100 feet AHO is the balance point that provides control, safety, and a smoother rollout.