Pilot Program Aims To Make Best Use Of Congested Airspace

Through a recently signed agreement, Jeppesen has been invited by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to participate in a pilot program that will allow third party vendors to develop, quality assure, flight inspect/test, and maintain Required Navigation Performance (RNP) flight procedures within the United States. Jeppesen tells ANN that once the company reaches qualified status, Jeppesen will be able to complete all phases of designing and implementing new public RNP procedures within the US National Airspace System (NAS).

Through the use of modern avionics and GPS, RNP flight procedures provide operators a highly effective tool for enabling safe and efficient operations in congested airspace, challenging terrain, and adverse weather conditions. RNP allows aircraft to navigate within very accurate corridors which reduces airport noise footprints and enables shorter, more efficient routes in and out of airports, thus reducing fuel burn and emissions. RNP procedures are also the foundation for continuous descent approaches, a technique for reducing fuel burn and noise during descent into an airport terminal area by using idle, or very low power settings from cruise altitude to the airport environment.

"Jeppesen has developed numerous RNP and other types of procedures around the world, including recent work with Boeing at Linzhi airport in the mountainous region of Tibet," said Andy McDowell, senior manager, Airspace Services. "RNP represents a key part of the future air traffic management system, and Jeppesen is pleased to begin the process to become an FAA qualified vendor."

Jeppesen says it delivers complete end-to-end custom approach procedure design services, including technologically advanced RNAV and standard procedures around the globe, including countries that operate under PAN-OPS rules. Jeppesen can also design and deliver RNP procedures that offer near ILS precision and minimums, without the cost and maintenance associated with ground-based systems. 

FMI: www.jeppesen.com, Read The FAA Fact Sheet On RNP And RNAV