During an airstart, how much altitude is lost in approximately 40 seconds?

During an airstart, the altitude loss over a 40-second period can generally be estimated based on the typical descent profile of an aircraft. The correct answer indicates that approximately 1,200 feet of altitude is lost during this timeframe. This estimation aligns with average descent rates for various aircraft in an airstart scenario where engines are being restarted in-flight and may not provide immediate thrust to counter descent rates adequately.

In many cases, during an airstart, pilots will focus on regaining engine power while managing the aircraft's descent. The loss of altitude during this phase is a critical consideration, as it influences decision-making around how quickly to recover the aircraft to a safe flying altitude. The scenarios often account for factors such as airspeed, aircraft type, and environmental conditions, which can affect descent rates.

The other altitude losses suggested do not typically correspond with the expected performance metrics observed in standard airstart procedures. 1,200 feet represents a realistic and widely accepted figure that reflects operational training and pilot experiences across various aircraft systems. This amount of altitude loss is significant enough to prompt immediate action from pilots to stabilize the aircraft and regain control, aligning with training protocols for airstart situations.