PBN Technical Information
Requirement of RNP AR Capable Aircraft
In order to fly RNP AR flight paths, an aircraft must be able to meet four major requirements:
- Determine its position in space
- Define a specific path
- Display a desired path
- Follow the desired path
The typical RNP AR capable aircraft is dual-equipped with the following:
- Flight Management Computer (FMC)
- Autopilot
- Flight Mode Annunciator (FMA)
- Flight Director
- Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) or Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS)
- Multi Mode Receiver (MMR) or GPS Receiver
- Large-format Primary Flight Display / Navigation Display (PFD/ND)
- Additional Emergency Power Source
RNAV Variability
While making turns from one TF leg to another TF leg in an RNAV procedure, aircraft display a wide variety of track-keeping performance. Aircraft speeds, winds, FMS logic and a variety of other factors contribute to these variances.
RNP Precision
GE RNP procedures use only curved RF legs for turns. This ensures that aircraft maintain the same track-keeping capabilities in turns that they do on straight TF legs.
ICAO PBN Manual
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) defines PBN as a concept that represents a shift from sensor-based to performance-based navigation.
Aviation organizations around the world have formed a PBN taskforce to accelerated the deployment of PBN.