Definition
A category of instrument approach procedure designed and approved exclusively for helicopter use, terminating at an airport or heliport. These procedures are identified on the approach chart with the prefix 'COPTER' in the title and use criteria, minimums, and design speeds tailored to helicopter performance rather than fixed-wing aircraft.
Plain English
An instrument approach that only helicopters are allowed to fly. It ends at either a regular airport or a dedicated helicopter landing site, and the chart says 'COPTER' in the title to make that clear.
Context Anchor
Seen on helicopter instrument approach charts, especially in the procedure title or notes for approaches labeled for copter use only.
Derivation
“Copter” is a shortened form of “helicopter.” “Heliport” combines “heli-,” from helicopter, with “port,” meaning a place for arrivals and departures. The wording points to procedures made for helicopter operations, not general airplane use.
Why Pilots Care
Helicopter pilots rely on these procedures for lower minima and steeper paths that fixed-wing aircraft cannot safely use.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as “any approach made by a helicopter.” It means a specific published instrument approach procedure that is restricted to helicopters and may go to either an airport or a heliport.
Example Sentence 1
The crew briefed the COPTER ILS approach into the airport, noting the lower minimums available because it was a copter-only procedure.
Example Sentence 2
Air traffic control cleared the helicopter for the Copter Only Approach to the airport while fixed-wing traffic used a different procedure.