v
12.5 RNP 2 Areas of Operation12-1
12.6 Terminal and En Route Phases of Flight12-1
12.7 Oceanic/Remote Continental RNP 2 Authorization12-2
12.8 Advanced Required Navigation Performance (A- RNP)12-2
Appendix A. Qualification Criteria for Required Navigation Performance Approach
(RNP APCH) OperationsA-1
Appendix B. Use of Barometric Vertical Navigation (baro-VNAV) for Required
Navigation Performance Approach (RNP APCH) OperationsB-1
Appendix C. Qualification Criteria for Required Navigation Performance (RNP) 1
(Terminal) OperationsC-1
Appendix D. Qualification Criteria for Required Navigation Performance (RNP) 0.3
(Rotorcraft) OperationsD-1
Appendix E. Qualification Criteria for Required Navigation Performance (RNP) 2
Domestic, Offshore, Oceanic, and Remote Continental OperationsE-1
Appendix F. Qualification Criteria for Required Navigation Performance (RNP) 4
Oceanic and Remote Continental OperationsF-1
Appendix G. Q ualification Criteria for Required Navigation Performance (RNP) 10
Oceanic and Remote Continental OperationsG-1
Appendix H. Advanced Required Navigation Performance (A-R NP)H-1
Appendix I. Additional CapabilitiesI-1
Appendix J. Administrative InformationJ-1
List of Figures
Figure 4-1. Performance-Based Navigation Concept4-1
Figure 4-2. T otal System Error (TSE)4-3
Figure 12-1. B undling Options12-3
L ist of Tables
Table 5-1. Applications of RNP Operations5-1
Table H-1. R NP FunctionsH-2
Table J-1. AcronymsJ-6
1-1 CHAPTER 1. GENERAL INFORMATION
1.1 Purpose. This advisory circular (AC) provides aircraft eligibility and operational guidance for operators to conduct Required Navigation Performance (RNP) operations in the United States, in oceanic and remote continental airspace, and in foreign countries which adopt International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards for RNP operations. The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies.
Guidance is provided for the following:
• Required Navigation Performance Approach (RNP APCH) Procedures: Appendix A, Qualification Criteria for Required Navigation Performance Approach (RNP APCH) Operations.
• RNP APCH Procedures to LNAV/VNAV Approach Minimums: Appendix B, Use of Barometric Vertical Navigation (baro-VNAV) for Required Navigation Performance Approach (RNP APCH) Operations.
• RNP 1 Arrival and Departure Procedures: Appendix C, Qualification Criteria for Required Navigation Performance (RNP) 1 (Terminal) Operations.
• RNP 0.3 En Route and Terminal Operations for Rotorcraft: Appendix D, Qualification Criteria for Required Navigation Performance (RNP) 0.3 (Rotorcraft) Operations.
• RNP 2 En Route Operations: Appendix E, Qualification Criteria for Required Navigation Performance (RNP) 2 Domestic, Offshore, Oceanic, and Remote Continental Operations.
• RNP 4 Operations in Oceanic and Remote Continental Airspace: Appendix F, Qualification Criteria for Required Navigation Performance (RNP) 4 Oceanic and Remote Continental Operations.
• RNP 10 Operations in Oceanic and Remote Continental Airspace: Appendix G, Qualification Criteria for Required Navigation Performance (RNP) 10 Oceanic and Remote Continental Operations.
Note: Area Navigation (RNAV) 10 is designated and authorized as RNP 10. This document uses the designation of RNP 10.
• Advanced RNP En Route, Terminal, or Approach Operations: Appendix H, Advanced Required Navigation Performance (A-RNP).
• Additional Capabilities: Appendix I.
Note: The contents of this AC reflect and harmonize with ICAO Doc 9613, fourth edition, Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) Manual (see Table 5-1).
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1.2 Alternative Method. In lieu of following the guidance in this AC without deviation, operators may elect to follow an alternative method, provided the alternative method is found to be acceptable by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
1.3 AC Feedback Form. For your convenience, the AC Feedback Form is the last page of this AC. Note any deficiencies found, clarifications needed, or suggested improvements regarding the contents of this AC on the Feedback Form.
2-1 CHAPTER 2. APPLICABILITY
2.1 Audience. The guidance contained in this advisory circular (AC) applies to all operators conducting Required Navigation Performance (RNP) operations under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) parts 91, 91 subpart K (part 91K), 121, 125, 129, and 135 within the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS). It also applies to all U.S.
operators conducting RNP operations offshore as defined by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Order JO 7400.11( ), Airspace Designations and Reporting Points;
and oceanic and remote continental airspace. This AC also applies to all U.S. operators conducting RNP operations in foreign airspace, where the foreign authority has implemented RNP in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Doc 9613.
2.2 Approach Guidance Not Applicable to This AC. This AC does not apply to Required Navigation Performance Authorization Required (RNP AR) covered by AC 90-101( ), Approval Guidance for RNP Procedures with AR. Guidance for operators to conduct 14 CFR part 97 instrument flight rules (IFR), Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS), instrument approach procedures (IAP) with localizer performance with vertical guidance (LPV), and localizer performance without vertical guidance (LP) lines of minima using the wide area augmentation system (WAAS) is covered in AC 90-107( ), Guidance for Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance and Localizer Performance without Vertical Guidance Approach Operations in the U.S. National Airspace System.
2.3 Terms. Mandatory terms used in this AC such as “must” are used only in the sense of ensuring applicability of these particular methods of compliance when the acceptable means of compliance (AMC) described herein are used. This AC does not change, add, or delete regulatory requirements or authorize deviations from regulatory requirements.
2.3.1 Major and Minor Failures. The terms of major and minor failure conditions are referenced from ICAO Doc 9613. Refer to AC 20-138( ), Airworthiness Approval of Positioning and Navigation Systems, for specific failure conditions and system performance requirements.
2.4 References. Most of the document references in this AC are the most current version as designated by parentheses ( ) placed at the end of the document title. In some cases, the actual version will be indicated by a letter. Documents without ( ) or a letter after the end of the document title designates all versions apply. As a convenience, most references are hyperlinked to the appropriate website containing the most current document. To navigate to the most current AC, Order, or Technical Standard Order (TSO), use the following links:
• Advisory Circulars,
• FAA Order, and
• Technical Standard Orders.
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2.5 Aircraft Eligibility and Aircraft Modification. Aircraft eligibility provided in this AC provides guidance for an operator to determine if their aircraft is capable of conducting these operations. This guidance is not appropriate for conducting any modifications to aircraft type design. Detailed and complete airworthiness guidance is available in AC 20-138( ) and should be used by all airworthiness applicants.
3-1 CHAPTER 3. DOCUMENTATION
3.1 Cancellation. Advisory Circular (AC) 90-105, Approval Guidance for RNP Operations and Barometric Vertical Navigation in the U.S. National Airspace System is cancelled.
AC 90-94, Guidelines for Using Global Positioning System Equipment for IFR En Route and Terminal Operations and for Nonprecision Instrument Approaches in the U.S.
National Airspace System (dated 12/14/1994) and AC 90-97, Use of Barometric Vertical Navigation (VNAV) for Instrument Approach Operations Using Decision Altitude (dated 10/19/2000) were cancelled with the publication of AC 90-105 (dated 1/23/2009).
Note: Guidance from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Order 8400.33, Procedures for Obtaining Authorization for Required Navigation Performance 4 (RNP-4) Oceanic and Remote Area Operations, and FAA Order 8400.12C, Required Navigation Performance 10 (RNP 10) Operational Authorization, are included in this AC.
3.2 FAA ACs and Orders. Please refer to the links provided in the bullets of paragraph 2.4 to obtain the latest ACs and/or orders.
• AC 20-138( ), Airworthiness Approval of Positioning and Navigation Systems.
• AC 20-153( ), Acceptance of Aeronautical Data Processes and Associated Databases.
• AC 23.1309-1( ), System Safety Analysis and Assessment for Part 23 Airplanes.
• AC 25.1309-1( ), System Design and Analysis.
• AC 25-15( ), Approval of Flight Management Systems in Transport Category Airplanes.
• AC 90-100( ), U.S. Terminal and En Route Area Navigation (RNAV) Operations.
• AC 90-101( ), Approval Guidance for RNP Procedures with AR.
• AC 90-107( ), Guidance for Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance and Localizer Performance without Vertical Guidance Approach Operations in the U.S. National Airspace System.
• AC 91-70( ), Oceanic and International Operations.
• AC 120-29( ), Criteria for Approval of Category I and Category II Weather Minima for Approach.
• Order 7110.82, Reporting Oceanic Errors.
• Order 7400.11( ), Airspace Designations and Reporting Points.
• Order 8260.3( ), United States Standard for Terminal Instrument Procedures (TERPS).
• Order 8260.19( ), Flight Procedures and Airspace.
• Order 8260.42( ), United States Standard for Helicopter Area Navigation (RNAV).
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• Order 8260.46( ), Departure Procedure (DP) Program.
• Order 8260.58( ), United States Standard for Performance Based Navigation (PBN) Instrument Procedure Design.
3.3 Related Regulations Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR).
• Part 71, §§ 71.31 and 71.71.
• Part 91, § 91.123, 91.175, 91.205, and Subpart H.
• Part 95.
• Part 97, § 97.20.
• Part 121, §§ 121.349, 121.351, and 121.567, Appendix G.
• Part 125, §§ 125.203, 125.287, and 125.325.
• Part 129, § 129.17.
• Part 135, § 135.165.
3.4 FAA Technical Standard Orders (TSO).
• TSO-C106, Air Data Computer.
• TSO-C115b, Airborne Area Navigation Equipment Using Multisensor Inputs.
• TSO-C115c or later, Airborne Area Navigation Equipment Using Multisensor Inputs.
• TSO-C129a, Airborne Supplemental Navigation Equipment Using the Global Positioning System (GPS).
• TSO-C145, Airborne Navigation Sensors Using the Global Positioning System (GPS) Augmented by the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS).
• TSO-C146, Stand-Alone Airborne Navigation Equipment Using the Global Positioning System (GPS) Augmented by the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS).
• TSO-C196, Airborne Supplemental Navigation Sensors for Global Positioning System Equipment using Aircraft-Based Augmentation.
3.5 RTCA Documents. Copies of the following RTCA, Inc. documents may be obtained from RTCA, Inc., 1150 18th Street NW, Suite 910, Washington, DC 20036, or purchased online at https://my.rtca.org/nc__store.
• RTCA/DO-178( ), Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification.
• RTCA/DO-187( ), Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Airborne Area Navigation Equipment Using Multi-Sensor Inputs.
• RTCA/DO-201( ), Standards for Aeronautical Information.
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• RTCA/DO-208( ), Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Airborne Supplemental Navigation Equipment Using Global Positioning System (GPS).
• RTCA/DO-229( ), Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Global Positioning System/Wide Area Augmentation System Airborne Equipment.
• RTCA/DO-236( ), Minimum Aviation System Performance Standards: Required Navigation Performance for Area Navigation.
• RTCA/DO-283( ), Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Required Navigation Performance for Area Navigation.
• RTCA/DO-316( ), Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Global Positioning System/Aircraft -based Augmentation System Airborne Equipment.
3.6 Other Documents. Copies of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) documents may be obtained from Document Sales Unit, ICAO, 999 Robert-Bourassa Boulevard, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 5H7, Canada:
• ICAO Doc 9613, Performance Based Navigation (PBN) Manual.
• ICAO Doc 4444 PANS ATM, Procedures for Air Navigation Services, Air Traffic Management.
• ICAO Doc 7030, Regional Supplementary Procedures (SUPPS).
• Aeronautical Information Publications (AIP), United States, 2020.
4-1 CHAPTER 4. GENERAL INFORMATION
4.1 Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) Concept. The PBN concept represents a shift from ground-based navigation to Area Navigation (RNAV). Performance requirements are identified in navigation specifications (Nav Spec) (e.g., the requirements in this advisory circular (AC)), which also identify the choices of navigation sensors, navigation equipment, operational procedures, and training needed to meet the performance requirements.
4.1.1 Components. The PBN concept specifies aircraft Required Navigation Performance (RNP) system performance requirements in terms of accuracy, integrity, availability, continuity, and functionality needed for particular operations or airspace. The Navigation Application is achieved by the use of a Navigational Aid (NAVAID) infrastructure and associated Nav Spec (See Figure 4-1, Performance-Based Navigation Concept).
Figure 4-1. Performance-Based Navigation Concept
4.1.1.1 Navigation Application. This is defined as the application of a Nav Spec and the supporting NAVAID infrastructure, to routes, procedures, and/or defined airspace volume, in accordance with the intended airspace concept. For example, in the terminal area, the Nav Spec is RNP 1 with an accuracy of 1 nautical mile (NM). The NAVAID infrastructure would be Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) or distance measuring equipment (DME)/DME.
4.1.1.2 NAVAID Infrastructure. NAVAID infrastructure refers to space-based and/or ground-based NAVAIDs available to meet the requirements in the Nav Spec.
4.1.1.3 Nav Spec. A set of aircraft and aircrew requirements needed to support PBN operations within a defined airspace. There are two kinds of Nav Spec:
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1. RNAV specification. A Nav Spec based on area navigation that does not include the requirement for onboard performance monitoring and alerting, designated by the prefix RNAV
(e.g., RNAV 5, RNAV 1).
2. RNP specification. A Nav Spec based on area navigation that includes the requirement for onboard performance monitoring and alerting, designated by the prefix RNP (e.g., RNP 4, Required Navigation Performance Approach (RNP APCH).
Note: The Performance-based Navigation Manual (Doc 9613), Volume II, contains additional information on Nav Specs.
4.1.2 Lateral Performance. For oceanic/remote, en route and terminal phases of flight, PBN is limited to operations with linear lateral performance requirements and time constraints due to legacy reasons associated with the previous RNP concept. In the approach phases of flight, PBN accommodates both linear and angular laterally guided operations.
4.1.2.1 RNP Values. The RNP value (also known as lateral navigation accuracy) designates the 95 percent lateral navigation (LNAV) performance (in NM) and the related monitoring and alerting requirements associated with an RNP instrument flight operation or a particular segment of that instrument flight.
RNP values are specified in NM (e.g., RNP 0.3).
4.1.3 Vertical Performance. Some Nav Specs include requirements for vertical guidance using augmented GNSS or barometric vertical navigation (baro-VNAV) (see Appendix B).
However, these requirements do not constitute vertical RNP which is neither defined nor included in the PBN Concept.
4.1.4 Onboard Performance Monitoring and Alerting. Onboard performance monitoring and alerting is the main element that determines if the navigation system complies with the necessary safety level associated to an RNP application. It relates to both lateral and longitudinal navigation performance; and it allows the aircrew to detect that the navigation system is not achieving, or cannot guarantee with 10-5 integrity, the navigation performance required for the operation. RNP systems provide improvements on the integrity of operations; this may permit closer route spacing and can provide sufficient integrity to allow only RNP systems to be used for navigation in a specific airspace. The use of RNP systems may therefore offer significant safety, operational and efficiency benefits.
4.2 Procedures and Routes. RNP procedures and routes require the use of RNAV systems with onboard performance monitoring and alerting. A critical component of RNP is the ability of the aircraft navigation system in combination with the pilot to monitor its achieved navigation performance and to identify for the pilot whether the operational requirement is or is not being met during an operation.
Note: Compliance with the performance monitoring and alerting requirement does not imply an automatic monitor of Flight Technical Error (FTE). The
4-3 onboard monitoring and alerting function should consist at least of a Navigation System Error (NSE) or Position Estimation Error (PEE) monitoring and alerting algorithm and a lateral deviation display enabling the crew to monitor the FTE.
To the extent operational procedures are used to monitor FTE, the crew procedure, equipment characteristics, and installation are evaluated for their effectiveness and equivalence as described in the functional requirements and operating procedures. Path Definition Error (PDE) is considered negligible due to the database integrity process (see Chapter 10, Database Integrity) and crew procedures.
Figure 4-2. Total System Error (TSE) N ote 1: When evaluating RNP compliance, consideration must be given to possible error sources. Figure 4-2 displays possible cross-track (XTK) errors that can occur with definitions provided in paragraph 4.3.
Note 2: PDE is negligible and assumed to be zero. NSE is used instead of PEE and FTE is used instead of Path Steering Error (PSE) because they are considered equivalent and are the industry preferred terms.
4.3 Navigation Error Components/Definitions. Also in Appendix J, Administrative Information.
4.3.1 Flight Technical Error (FTE) or Path Steering Error (PSE). The accuracy with which the aircraft is controlled as measured by the indicated aircraft position, with respect to the indicated command or desired position is the FTE. It does not include blunder errors.
4.3.1.1 Display Error. As a component of FTE, these errors may include error components contributed by any input, output, or signal conversion equipment used by the display as it presents either aircraft position or guidance commands (e.g., course deviation or command heading) and by any course definition entry device employed.
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4.3.2 Path Definition Error (PDE). This is the difference between the defined path and the desired path at a specific point.
4.3.3 Navigation System Error (NSE) or Position Estimation Error (PEE). The difference between true position and estimated position.
4.3.4 Total System Error (TSE). The difference between the true position and the desired position and is equal to the vector sum of the FTE, PDE, and NSE.
4.3.5 Position Estimation Error (PEE) or Navigation System Error (NSE). PEE or NSE is the difference between true position and estimated position.