Definition
A point on the ground or on an object that a pilot selects and visually tracks against the airplane's windshield reference to judge the airplane's flight path, drift, or descent angle during maneuvers such as ground reference work or the visual approach.
Plain English
A spot the pilot picks out the windshield and watches to see whether the airplane is heading toward it, drifting away from it, or staying lined up with it. It tells the pilot how the airplane is actually moving relative to the ground.
Context Anchor
Used on final approach when judging height, movement, and where the airplane is aimed in relation to the runway.
Derivation
From Latin 'intercipere,' meaning 'to take or seize between.' The visual interception point is the spot the airplane's flight path is set to 'meet' or 'catch' if the pilot holds the current track and descent.
Why Pilots Care
Accurate use prevents landing short, floating, or misjudging height above the runway.
Grounding Statement
If the chosen point stays in the same spot on the windshield, the airplane is heading straight to it; if it slides up, the airplane will land short, and if it slides down, the airplane will overshoot.
Intuition Check
Do not assume the visual interception point is the exact touchdown point. The airplane’s path changes during the flare, so the actual touchdown normally occurs beyond the point you were aimed at before the flare.
Example Sentence 1
On final approach, the pilot picked a visual interception point just short of the runway numbers and adjusted pitch and power to keep it stationary on the windshield.
Example Sentence 2
As the airplane descended, the visual interception point moved down the runway, showing the need for a power reduction.