Plain English Meaning

The lowest cloud and visibility conditions a helicopter is allowed to use when flying a particular instrument approach. Helicopters get their own line of minimums on the chart, and the numbers are usually lower than the ones airplanes have to use.

Full Definition

The landing minimums published on an instrument approach chart that apply specifically to helicopters. These minimums typically allow lower visibility values than those for fixed-wing aircraft because of the helicopter's ability to fly slower and approach at steeper angles. Copter minima are shown on the approach plate alongside the categories used by airplanes (A, B, C, D) and are labeled with the word 'COPTER' or 'H'.

Context Anchor

Seen in the landing minimums section of an instrument approach chart, especially when a separate helicopter line is published.

Derivation

Copter' is short for 'helicopter,' from Greek 'helix' () and 'pteron' (). '' is the Latin plural of 'minimum,' meaning the smallest or lowest amount. Together: the lowest acceptable conditions for a helicopter to land.