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.

FMI: Read The FAA's Detailed Explanation of RNP