Definition
A helicopter instrument approach procedure that ends at a point in space (a geographic location identified by coordinates), called the missed approach point, rather than at a runway or landing surface. From this point, the pilot must complete the final segment to the landing site visually under visual flight conditions, or fly the missed approach if those conditions are not met.
Plain English
An instrument approach for helicopters that brings you down to a specific spot in the air near your destination. Once you reach that spot, if you can see well enough, you finish the landing visually. If not, you fly the missed approach.
Context Anchor
Seen on helicopter instrument approach charts, especially for heliports or landing areas that do not have a full instrument approach leading directly to the pad.
Derivation
The name is literal: the approach ends at a 'point in space' rather than at a physical surface. This signals to the pilot that the instrument portion stops before the actual landing site, and the visual segment must take over.
Why Pilots Care
Enables safe instrument arrivals to offshore platforms and heliports that lack conventional runway alignments.
Grounding Statement
The approach gets the helicopter to a charted point near the destination, then the pilot must visually complete the last part or discontinue the landing attempt.
Intuition Check
Do not assume “approach” means the procedure takes you all the way to the landing pad. In a point-in-space approach, the instrument procedure ends at a defined point, and the last part depends on meeting the visual requirements shown on the chart.
Example Sentence 1
We flew the point-in-space approach to the hospital helipad and broke out with enough visibility to complete the landing visually.
Example Sentence 2
During the checkride the examiner asked for a point-in-space approach to the offshore platform.