Planes Can Land With Lower Ceilings, Reduced Visibility
The Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) announced Tuesday that a new navigation
procedure at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Called
"Required Navigation Performance" (RNP), the procedure takes
advantage of a plane's onboard navigation capability to fly a more
precise flight path into the airport.
The system is an extension of area navigation -- or RNAV --
procedures, which are typically met through use of such equipment
as GPS receivers to fly a more precise course and approach path.
RNP, while not based on use of one particular piece of
equipment, is dependant on such procedures to allow pilots to
demonstrate the ability to fly the same course a number of
times.
RNP's "repeatability" -- its ability to allow aircraft to fly
the same path consistently -- lets the FAA design procedures to
avoid noise-sensitive areas with the assurance that aircraft will
fly the exact path every time, according to the FAA.
The Reagan National RNP approach to Runway 19, which follows the
Potomac River, allows planes to land with considerably lower cloud
ceilings and visibility than currently required, increasing airport
access during marginal weather.
"We're tapping the high-performance computing capability of
today's aircraft to move more planes more safely and efficiently,"
said FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey. "The environmental
benefits are terrific too, because flying straight down the middle
of the flight path means that people on the ground perceive less
jet noise and experience fewer engine emissions."
The procedure at Reagan National may be used by any operator who
can meet specific FAA requirements for aircraft navigation
performance and pilot training. Alaska Airlines is the first air
carrier authorized by the FAA to use the RNP procedures at Reagan
National. The FAA tells Aero-News the airline pioneered the use of
RNP procedures at Juneau and other airports in Alaska.
To be certified to fly RNP approaches at airports with
authorized procedures in place -- besides Reagan National, the FAA
has authorized RNP procedures at Juneau, San Francisco, Portland,
OR; Palm Springs, CA; and Hailey (Sun Valley), ID -- an operator
must demonstrate the ability to meet the following guidelines:
- Navigation performance
accuracy, within which the navigation system is expected to remain
95% of the time
- Airspace for continuity and integrity in addition to the 95%
area
The FAA and the aviation community have collaborated for more
than a year to make performance-based navigation a reality. When
performance-based navigation is fully implemented at airports
across the nation, it will establish precise approach, arrival and
departure procedures.
The widespread use of RNP will also improve situational
awareness for pilots and air traffic controllers, according to the
FAA, and provide smoother traffic flows -- saving fuel and
benefiting the environment.