Performance Based Navigation (PBN)
Guidance & Approval
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Performance Based Navigation (PBN) is comprised of Area Navigation (RNAV) and Required Navigation Performance (RNP) and describes an aircraft's capability to navigate using performance standards. RNAV enables aircraft to fly on any desired flight path within the coverage of ground or space based navigation aids, within the limits of the capability of the self-contained systems, or a combination of both capabilities.
RNP is RNAV with the addition of 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. The performance requirements of PBN are conveyed to the operators through navigation specifications. PBN navigation specifications include Advanced RNP (A-RNP), RNP 0.3, RNP 1, RNP 2, RNP 4, RNAV 1, RNAV 2, RNP 10(RNAV 10), as well as RNAV (GPS) and RNAV (RNP) approaches.
| Type of Operation | NavSpec | Guidance Materials | Approval Mechanism | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| En route, Terminal, and certain Approach Operations | Advanced RNP (A-RNP) |
AC 90-105A | OpSpec/MSpec/LOA B035/B036/C063/H123 | |
| Helicopter En route, Terminal and certain Approach Operations |
RNP 0.3 | AC 90-105A | OpSpec/MSpec H123 | NAS Resource Guide |
| Departures, Arrivals and certain Terminal area Operations (SIDS/STARS labeled "RNAV") |
RNAV 1 | AC 90-100A | OPSPEC / MSPEC / LOA C063 | |
| Departure, Arrival, and Terminal Procedures with certain required functions such as RF turns | RNP 1 | AC 90-105A | OPSPEC / MSPEC / LOA C063 | GPS RAIM Prediction NAS Resource Guide |
| Domestic En route, and Offshore, and Oceanic/Remote En route | RNP 2 | AC 90-105A | OPSPEC / MSPEC / LOA B035/B036 | (Must download to use) |
| Domestic Enroute (Q and T-Routes) |
RNAV 2 | AC 90-100A | OPSPEC / MSPEC / LOA B035 | |
| Instrument Approach Operations Procedures titled "RNAV (GPS)" |
RNP APCH | AC 90-105A | OPSPEC / MSPEC / LOA C052 | |
| Oceanic | RNP 4 RNP 10 RNAV 10 |
AC 90-105A | OPSPEC/MSPEC B036, B037, B038, B039, B054 | (Must download to use) |
| RNP AR Operations Approach or Departure Operations with Authorization Required Procedures titled "RNAV (RNP)" or Departures titled "RNP" |
RNP AR APCH and RNP AR DP |
AC 90-101A | OPSPEC / MSPEC / LOA C384 |
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