What is the approximate glide distance when operating at 5,500 feet?

The approximate glide distance is determined by understanding the ratio of altitude to distance traveled while gliding. Generally, a commonly accepted glide ratio for many aircraft is around 2:1 to 3:1, meaning for every 1 unit of altitude, the aircraft can glide 2 to 3 units of horizontal distance.

At 5,500 feet, using an average glide ratio of about 1:2 (more conservative for many aircraft), you can calculate the glide distance. For instance, if you have 5,500 feet of altitude to work with, you can expect to glide approximately 11,000 feet horizontally, translating to about 2 nautical miles (NM) per 1,000 feet of altitude. So 5,500 feet would yield a glide distance of roughly 11 NM, which would be rounded to about 10 NM considering practical flying conditions.

Answer B is reasonable when accommodating real-world conditions and the general performance characteristics of many aircraft that might lead to flight operations in specific configurations. The parameters for glide performance can vary based on specific aircraft type, weight, and weather conditions; however, glide distances typically peak around the 10 NM mark under ideal circumstances at that altitude.