Definition
A category of helicopter-only instrument approach procedure that uses Area Navigation based on GPS positioning to guide the aircraft to an airport or heliport. Copter RNAV (GPS) approaches are designed specifically for helicopter performance and may use lower minimums, tighter turn radii, and shorter final segments than equivalent fixed-wing procedures. They are charted with the prefix 'COPTER' in the procedure title and may be flown only by helicopters using approach-approved GPS equipment.
Plain English
An instrument approach built just for helicopters that uses GPS to guide the aircraft down to an airport or heliport. Because it's designed for how helicopters actually fly, it can use tighter turns and lower weather minimums than approaches built for airplanes.
Context Anchor
Seen as the title of a helicopter GPS approach chart for an airport or heliport.
Derivation
Copter' is the standard abbreviation for helicopter used in FAA charting. 'RNAV' stands for Area Navigation, meaning the aircraft can fly any path between waypoints rather than being tied to ground-based navigation stations. '(GPS)' specifies that the navigation source is the Global Positioning System satellite network. The combined title signals 'a GPS-based area navigation approach restricted to helicopters.'
Why Pilots Care
Allows helicopter pilots to complete safe instrument approaches in lower ceilings and visibility that would be unavailable using fixed-wing procedures.
Intuition Check
Do not read COPTER as casual wording on the chart. Here it means the approach is specifically for helicopters, not for airplanes.
Example Sentence 1
With the ceiling down to 400 feet, the pilot briefed the COPTER RNAV (GPS) RWY 18 approach because its lower minimums gave the best chance of getting in.
Example Sentence 2
COPTER RNAV (GPS) minima often permit a lower decision altitude than standard approaches because the procedure is sized for helicopter maneuverability.