Fact Sheet
For Immediate Release
June 24, 2008
Contact: Alison Duquette
Phone: (202) 267-3883
NextGen Goal: Performance-Based Navigation
RNAV and RNP Evolution Through 2025
The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) is the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) plan to modernize the National Airspace System (NAS) through 2025. Through NextGen, the FAA is addressing the impact of air traffic growth by increasing NAS capacity and efficiency while simultaneously improving safety, environmental impacts, and user access to the NAS. The FAA is implementing new routes and procedures that leverage emerging aircraft navigation capabilities, including Performance-Based Navigation (PBN), which is helping FAA to achieve its NextGen goals.
What is Performance-Based Navigation?
PBN is a framework for defining navigation performance requirements (embodied in “navigation specifications”) that can be applied to an air traffic route, instrument procedure, or defined airspace. PBN includes both Area Navigation (RNAV) and Required Navigation Performance (RNP) specifications. PBN provides a basis for the design and implementation of automated flight paths as well as for airspace design and obstacle clearance. Once the required performance level is established, the aircraft’s own capability determines whether it can safely achieve the specified performance and qualify for the operation.
The FAA’s Roadmap for Performance Based Navigation (updated in 2006) calls for:
- Expediting the development of PBN criteria and standards.
- Introducing airspace and procedure improvements in the near-term.
- Providing benefits to operators who have invested in existing and upcoming capabilities.
- Establishing target dates for the introduction of navigation mandates for selected procedures and airspace, with an understanding that any mandate must be rationalized on the basis of benefits and costs.
- Defining new concepts and applications of PBN for the mid-term and far-term, building synergy and integration with other capabilities toward the realization of NextGen goals.
As NextGen evolves, commitments such as those detailed in the Roadmap for Performance-Based Navigation will be incorporated into the NextGen Implementation Plan. These advances in aircraft capabilities and air traffic system operations may contribute to reduced separation and support the transition from rules-based operations to performance-based operations, including RNAV and RNP.
What Is RNAV?
Area Navigation (RNAV) enables aircraft to fly on any desired flight path within the coverage of ground- or spaced-based navigation aids, within the limits of the capability of the self-contained systems, or a combination of both capabilities. As such, RNAV aircraft have better access and flexibility for point-to-point operations.
What Is RNP?
Required Navigation Performance (RNP) is RNAV with the addition of an onboard performance monitoring and alerting capability. A defining characteristic of RNP operations is the ability of the aircraft navigation system to monitor the navigation performance it achieves and inform the crew if the requirement is not met during an operation. This onboard monitoring and alerting capability enhances the pilot’s situation awareness and can enable reduced obstacle clearance or closer route spacing without intervention by air traffic control.
Certain RNP operations require advanced features of the onboard navigation function and approved training and crew procedures. These operations must receive approvals that are characterized as Special Aircraft and Aircrew Authorization Required (SAAAR), similar to approvals required for operations to conduct Instrument Landing System Category II and III approaches.
Global Support
The aviation community is pursuing the benefits of PBN through the implementation of RNAV and RNP-based air traffic routes and instrument procedures. In March 2007, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) completed the PBN Manual which involved collaboration with technical and operational experts from several countries. The ICAO PBN Manual provides a long-anticipated global harmonization of RNAV and RNP requirements – a leading priority of the aviation stakeholder community worldwide. To promote global awareness and understanding of the new Manual, FAA and the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL), with the ICAO PBN Program Office, are presenting seminars throughout the ICAO Regions.
Benefits
RNAV and RNP specifications facilitate more efficient design of airspace and procedures which collectively result in improved safety, access, capacity, predictability, operational efficiency, and environmental effects. Specifically, improved access and flexibility for point-to-point operations help enhance reliability and reduce delays by defining more precise terminal area procedures. They also provide fuel and emissions savings.
Modeled benefits for fuel and emissions savings for RNAV at OEP airports (MITRE, September 2007)
Phoenix (PHX) RNAV Arrivals
Since the implementation of two RNAV Standard Terminal Arrival procedures at PHX in October 2006, there have been significant benefits noted, including 38 percent reduction in the time aircraft remain in level flight at key step-down altitudes in terminal airspace, user benefit savings estimated at $2.4 million annually, and reductions in carbon dioxide emissions estimated at 2500 metric tons annually
Atlanta (ATL) RNAV Departures
Atlanta RNAV Standard Instrument Departures have achieved fuel savings as a result of decreased departure delays. Annual savings have been estimated to be approximately four (4) million gallons per year broken down as follows:
- East flow estimated average 2.6 minute reduced delay and approximately one (1) million gallons per year in fuel savings
- West flow estimated average 4.6 minute reduced delay and approximately three (3) million gallons per year in fuel savings
RNP SAAAR
RNP SAAAR approach procedures offer design flexibility and enhanced performance, allowing us to mitigate obstacles and de-conflict traffic as illustrated in the RNP SAAAR approach at Dekalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK) depicted below.
RNP containment provides separation from obstacles
Similarly, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport’s RNP SAAAR approach to Runway 19 was designed to avoid the protected areas near the nation’s Capital and provide approved carriers with the ability to land in situations of decreasing visibility due to weather.
Alaska Airlines continues to benefit from its use of special RNP SAAAR approaches which enabled them to realize 1245 ‘saves’ in 2007. ‘Saves” are operations that would not have been possible without RNP.
To date, FAA has authorized more than 230 RNAV procedures at 83 airports.
RNAV 2005 – June 2008 [Cities in bold have OEP airports]
- Alaska (Adak, Akhiok, Anaktuvuk Pass, Anchorage, Arctic Village, Atka, Golovin, Juneau, Kaltag, Ketchikan, King Cove, Nondalton, Palmer, Perryville, Petersburg, Ruby, Sitka, Willow)
- Arizona (Glendale, Goodyear, Phoenix, San Carlos, Sedona, Tucson)
- California (Alturas, Borrego Valley, California City, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Mojave, Oakland, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Monica)
- Colorado (Holyoke, Lake County, Nucla, Rifle, Walden)
- Florida (Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, Ft. Myers, Miami, Naples, Orlando, Tampa, West Palm Beach)
- Georgia (Atlanta, Augusta)
- Hawaii (Hana)
- Idaho (Arco, Driggs, Grangeville, Hailey)
- Illinois (Chicago)
- Kentucky (Covington, Louisville)
- Maryland (Baltimore)
- Massachusetts (Boston, Nantucket)
- Minnesota (Minneapolis-St. Paul)
- Montana (Colstrip)
- Nevada (Las Vegas, Reno)
- New Hampshire (Manchester)
- New Jersey (Newark, Teterboro)
- New York (New York)
- North Carolina (Charlotte)
- Ohio (Cleveland)
- Rhode Island (Providence)
- Tennessee (Memphis)
- Texas (Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston)
- Utah (Heber City, Richfield, Salt Lake City)
- Virginia (Arlington, Dulles)
- Washington (Seattle)
- Wyoming (Afton)
The FAA has authorized a total of 79 RNP procedures at 31 airports.
RNP 2005 – June 2008 [Cities in bold have OEP airports]
- Alaska (Red Dog)
- Arizona (Tucson)
- California (Bishop, Palm Springs, Long Beach, San Francisco)
- Ecuador (Quito)
- Florida (Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa)
- Hawaii (Honolulu, Lihue)
- Georgia (Atlanta)
- Guam (Agana)
- Idaho (Hailey)
- Indiana (Gary)
- Illinois (Chicago)
- Maryland (Baltimore)
- Minnesota (Minneapolis-St. Paul)
- New Jersey (Newark)
- New York (New York)
- Oklahoma (Oklahoma City)
- Oregon (Portland)
- Texas (Dallas-Ft. Worth)
- Virginia (Arlington, Dulles)
- Washington (Seattle)
- Wyoming (Jackson)
Looking to the Future
Performance-Based Navigation is a cornerstone of FAA's NextGen vision. RNAV and RNP procedures will continue to enhance safety and capacity, providing benefits for industry and the flying public.
