What does short and final approach mean in aviation?

Question

What does the term "short and final" mean in aviation? Is it a specific amount of time or distance? Is it different for planes versus helicopters?

Answer 1

there are four legs in a traffic pattenr making a box surrounding the runway.

There is the up wind leg flown parallel to the runway (same direction you are landing from)

turn 90 degrees will become cross wind, turn 90 degrees it becomes down wind (opposite direction you are landing) turn 90 degrees you are on the base leg, turn 90 degrees you are on the final leg coming in for a landing, short final is when you are close to the runway on the final leg.

distance is relative.

Answer 2

Short refers to the distance yet to go before a touchdown

(Short final)  Final is the last leg of the pattern, when  you are committed to land.

Answer 3

Final approach is the last course you fly before landing on the runway.  Some of the airliner pilots have final approaches that are twenty miles long.

I personally consider a 'short' final to be less than 1/2 a mile, but it depends on the type of plane, pilot, and airport.