CPA stands for which term in radar navigation?

CPA stands for which term in radar navigation?

• A. Closest Point of Arrival
• B. Collision Potential Assessment
• C. Closest Point of Approach
• D. Cross-Path Alignment

Answer: (C)

In radar navigation, CPA stands for Closest Point of Approach. It’s the moment when two moving vessels are closest to each other if they continue on their current speeds and courses. This single distance value is what you use to judge collision risk—if the CPA is smaller than your safety threshold, you take action to increase separation. You can also think in terms of time to CPA (TCPA), which tells you when that closest approach would occur. The other terms aren’t standard for this context: Closest Point of Arrival would imply a destination, Collision Potential Assessment is a broader risk term, and Cross-Path Alignment isn’t a recognized radar navigation term.

In radar navigation, CPA stands for Closest Point of Approach. It’s the moment when two moving vessels are closest to each other if they continue on their current speeds and courses. This single distance value is what you use to judge collision risk—if the CPA is smaller than your safety threshold, you take action to increase separation. You can also think in terms of time to CPA (TCPA), which tells you when that closest approach would occur. The other terms aren’t standard for this context: Closest Point of Arrival would imply a destination, Collision Potential Assessment is a broader risk term, and Cross-Path Alignment isn’t a recognized radar navigation term.