Definition
The vertical distance between the helicopter's landing gear and the helipoint (the designated touchdown marking on a heliport) at the moment the helicopter crosses over it during a final approach. It is used as a reference for stabilized approach profiles to a heliport.
Plain English
How high the helicopter's skids or wheels are above the landing spot at the instant it passes over that spot on approach.
Context Anchor
Seen on helicopter approach information, especially where a published path guides the helicopter toward a helipoint.
Derivation
Helipoint is the marked aiming point on a heliport surface. Crossing height is borrowed from fixed-wing approach terminology (like threshold crossing height for runways) and applied to the equivalent reference point for helicopters.
Why Pilots Care
Ensures proper obstacle clearance and a stabilized descent path into the landing area.
Intuition Check
Do not read height here as altitude above sea level. It means vertical distance above the helipoint reference.
Example Sentence 1
The published approach calls for a helipoint crossing height of 15 feet, so plan the descent to arrive over the pad at that altitude.
Example Sentence 2
ATC cleared the helicopter to cross the helipoint at the published crossing height.