AIM Text
- COPs are prescribed for Federal airways, jet routes, area navigation routes, or other direct routes for which an MEA is designated under 14 CFR part 95. The COP is a point along the route or airway segment between two adjacent navigation facilities or waypoints where changeover in navigation guidance should occur. At this point, the pilot should change navigation receiver frequency from the station behind the aircraft to the station ahead.
- The COP is normally located midway between the navigation facilities for straight route segments, or at the intersection of radials or courses forming a dogleg in the case of dogleg route segments. When the COP is NOT located at the midway point, aeronautical charts will depict the COP location and give the mileage to the radio aids.
- COPs are established for the purpose of preventing loss of navigation guidance, to prevent frequency interference from other facilities, and to prevent use of different facilities by different aircraft in the same airspace. Pilots are urged to observe COPs to the fullest extent.
Source: FAA Aeronautical Information Manual · current edition · paragraph 5-3-6.
The short answer
This AIM section is FAA advisory guidance on Changeover Points (COPs)—the point on a Federal airway, jet route, RNAV route, or direct route where a pilot should switch navigation guidance from the facility behind to the one ahead. COPs support en route navigation under 14 CFR part 95 (MEA designation) and the centerline-tracking requirement of 14 CFR 91.181.
Research Notes
Common Questions
Where is a changeover point normally located?
Per the AIM, the COP is normally located midway between the two navigation facilities on straight route segments, or at the intersection of radials or courses forming a dogleg on dogleg segments. When it is NOT at the midpoint, aeronautical charts depict the COP location and give the mileage to the radio aids.
Why do COPs exist and should pilots observe them?
The AIM states COPs are established to prevent loss of navigation guidance, prevent frequency interference from other facilities, and prevent different aircraft in the same airspace from using different facilities. Pilots are urged to observe COPs to the fullest extent.
What should the pilot actually do at the COP?
At the COP the pilot should change the navigation receiver frequency from the station behind the aircraft to the station ahead, so navigation guidance changes over at that point along the airway or route segment between the two adjacent navigation facilities or waypoints.