---
name: "flyInHeight"
type: command
status: ok
groups: ["Object Manipulation"]
arma3_since: "0.50"
locality: {"argument": "local", "effect": "global", "server_exec": false}
source: https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/flyInHeight
revid: 376081
updated: 2025-08-01T17:11:58Z
---

# flyInHeight

*Command · Object Manipulation · Arma 3 v0.50 · introduced in Operation Flashpoint v1.00*

Locality: arguments **local** · effect **global**

## Description

Sets the flying altitude for aircraft relatively to the ground surface. Avoid too low altitudes, as helicopters and planes won't evade trees and obstacles on the ground. The default flying altitude is 100 meters. The minimum height is 20 meters.

> [!NOTE]
> Height measurement is relative to the pilot and can be approximated with `ASLToAGL eyePos driver _aircraft;`.

## Syntax

### Syntax 1

```sqf
aircraft flyInHeight altitude
```

**Parameters:**

- `aircraft`: [Object](../topics/Object.md)
- `altitude`: [Number](../topics/Number.md) - flying altitude in meters

**Returns:** [Nothing](../topics/Nothing.md)

### Syntax 2

*since arma3 2.14*

```sqf
aircraft flyInHeight [altitude, forced]
```

**Parameters:**

- `aircraft`: [Object](../topics/Object.md)
- `altitude`: [Number](../topics/Number.md) - flying altitude in meters
- `forced`: [Boolean](../topics/Boolean.md) - [true](../commands/true.md) to force altitude in all cases, [false](../commands/false.md) to behave like main syntax

**Returns:** [Nothing](../topics/Nothing.md)

## Examples

### Example 1

```sqf
_helicopter flyInHeight 40;
```

### Example 2

```sqf
// for altitudes below 10m
_helicopter flyInHeight 5;            // helicopter will land
_helicopter flyInHeight [5, true];    // helicopter will hover at 5m altitude

// on a landed helicopter
_helicopter flyInHeight 50;            // helicopter will not move until a waypoint is added
_helicopter flyInHeight [50, true];    // helicopter will start to rise immediately
```

## See also

[flyInHeightASL](../commands/flyInHeightASL.md)

## Community notes

**Hardrock** — 2006-08-04

*Notes from before the conversion:*

From Operation Flashpoint v1.80 - [flyInHeight](../commands/flyInHeight.md) now affects not only helicopters, but also planes.

---

**Kronzky** — 2008-12-16

A [flyInHeight](../commands/flyInHeight.md) of 0 will keep the chopper pinned to the ground, even when the engines have been started.

---

**Jtgibson** — 2009-04-11

If a helo has no waypoints, it will assume a low hover without regard to this setting.

> [!IMPORTANT]
> This comment does not apply to the [alternative syntax](../commands/flyInHeight.md#syntax-2).

---

**OverlordZorn** — 2025-08-01

As of 2.20:

- when altitude is greater or equal 10, collision avoidance will maintain priority and the rotary airframe stays around 20~35 meters ATL, depending on nearby objects.

- when altitude is lower then 10, for example, 9.99999, it seems that collision avoidance is disabled and the airframe will maintain the desired ATL.

<sub>Source: [BI Community Wiki — flyInHeight](https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/flyInHeight) (revision 376081).</sub>