Which of the following describes a halyard?

• A. Rope or cable used for hoisting and lowering fly sections
• B. Upper section of an extension ladder; the section that moves
• C. Device attached to the inside of beams to hold fly section in place
• D. Metal rods located beneath rungs extending from one beam to another of a wood ladder

Answer: (A)

The halyard is the rope or cable that raises and lowers the fly section of an extension ladder. In an extension ladder, you have a base portion and a movable upper fly portion; the halyard runs through pulleys and is attached to the top of the fly so you can pull to lift it and then secure it at the desired height. This makes the halyard distinct from the other components: the upper section is the fly itself, the device that holds the fly in place is a locking mechanism (like a pawl or latch), and the metal rods under the rungs are spreaders or braces that keep the ladder open and rigid. So the rope or cable used for hoisting and lowering the fly section is the halyard.