point of no return

Etymology
The expression originated in air navigation planning. The point along the planned flight path beyond which an aircraft will no longer be capable of returning to the takeoff airfield or an alternate airfield due to insufficient fuel is calculated before takeoff. This is mandatory for overwater flights or flights without alternates on route.

Noun

 * 1)  The point in an aircraft's flight when there is insufficient fuel to reverse direction and return to the place of origin.
 * 2)  The point in any process or sequence of events where some development becomes inevitable.

Usage notes
Because of undesirable connotations elicited by the figurative use of the term, its use in air navigation has been superseded by the term point of safe return (PSR).

Translations

 * Arabic:
 * Chinese:
 * Mandarin: 航線臨界點
 * Dutch: punt van veilige terugkeer
 * Finnish:, paluurajakohta
 * French:
 * German: Umkehrgrenzpunkt
 * Italian: punto di non ritorno
 * Japanese:
 * Russian:
 * Spanish: punto de no retorno


 * Arabic:
 * Catalan: punt de no-retorn
 * Chinese:
 * Mandarin: 不能返回臨界點, 只能進不能退的地步, 有進無退的處境, 欲罷不能的狀態
 * Dutch: punt vanwaaruit geen terugkeer mogelijk is
 * Finnish: piste, josta ei ole paluuta
 * French:
 * German: no direct translation (see Zurück)
 * Italian: punto di non ritorno
 * Japanese:
 * Polish: punkt bez powrotu
 * Portuguese: ponto de não retorno
 * Russian:
 * Spanish: punto de no retorno
 * Ukrainian: то́чка непове́рнення
 * Welsh: pwynt di-droi'n-ôl