Which of the following factors is listed as affecting lift capacity?

• A. Altitude
• B. Lighting
• C. Noise
• D. Color

Answer: (A)

Lift capacity hinges on air density. As altitude increases, the air becomes thinner, so there are fewer air molecules for the rotor to push downward. That reduces the amount of lift generated at a given rotor speed and blade pitch, and it can also lower engine performance due to the thinner air. So altitude directly lowers lift capacity.

Lighting, noise, and color don’t change air density or rotor dynamics, so they don’t directly affect lift capacity (they might affect visibility or crew comfort, but not the physics of lift).