(nautical, navigation) An estimated point in which the distance between two objects, of which at least one is in motion, will reach its minimum value; abbreviated CPA. The estimate is used to evaluate the risk of a collision of e.g. two ships.

The Atkins diet.

(aviation) The point during descent at which a pilot must initiate a go-around maneuver if the runway is not in clear sight.

plural of closest point of approach

(aviation) a final approach whereupon the airplane intercepts the ILS glideslope from above, instead of as normally from below

(aviation) Alternative spelling of slam dunk approach

(aviation) An instrument approach using a guidance system that provides only horizontal, and not vertical, guidance (such as VOR, NDB, or localizer navigation), requiring the pilot to manually maintain terrain clearance by flying at a predefined safe altitude for each segment of the approach by reference to their altimeter.

(archaic) second-person singular simple present form of approach