Which is a night method to mark a landing zone?

• A. IR Buzzsaw or NATO 'Y'
• B. Moonlight and Strobe
• C. IR Strobe and Signal flare
• D. Flight panel and Smoke

Answer: (A)

Night LZ marking relies on signals that aircraft equipped with night vision can see without exposing the position to unaided eyes. The IR Buzzsaw is a rotating infrared beacon that creates a bright, detectable pattern for helicopters using night vision gear. The NATO 'Y' is a standardized infrared marker arrangement that forms a distinct Y pattern, easy for pilots to recognize and align on approach. Together, these infrared methods allow precise marking of the landing zone at night while remaining covert to ground observers not using night vision. Other options depend on visible light or smoke, which can reveal the location to enemies, be difficult to see in darkness, or be unreliable in wind or weather, making them less suitable for night operations.