What is the minimum altitude for seat swaps?

• A. 1000
• B. 200
• C. 50
• D. 1500

Answer: (A)

Moving between crew seats is a transient maneuver that requires a safety margin to keep the aircraft under control while someone shifts position and re-secures themselves. The 1000 ft above ground level gives just enough altitude to complete the swap, re-establish proper control inputs, and recover if anything momentarily unsettles the aircraft. It provides a practical buffer against unexpected inputs or brief distraction, while still not being overly conservative.

Going lower (200 ft or 50 ft) leaves almost no time or room to react if something goes awry, which could endanger terrain clearance and overall flight safety. A higher value (1500 ft) would be safer, but it isn’t needed to meet the minimum requirement; the established minimum is 1000 ft to balance safety with operational efficiency.