Using RNAV/RNP

In 1957 the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first man-made satellite. The American psyche was troubled by the potential of this technological second place. This planted the seeds of one of Americas greatest military and technological innovations-GPS.

jmiller

Friday, September 15, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

GPS, developed following the launch of Sputnik, is now the backbone of aviation's Performance Based Navigation (PBN), which includes Area Navigation (RNAV) and Required Navigational Performance (RNP).
Onboard integrity monitoring systems, primarily RAIM (Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring) and WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System), are crucial for ensuring the accuracy and reliability of GPS data for navigation.
Pilots performing RNAV/RNP operations must adhere to specific procedures, including correctly filing flight plans, checking GPS NOTAMs, ensuring current navigation databases, and utilizing a flight director or autopilot for SIDs/STARs.
RNP approaches offer enhanced capabilities such as the elimination of secondary obstacle clearance areas and the use of curved Radius-to-Fix (RF) legs, expanding navigation options in challenging environments.

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In 1957 the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first man-made satellite. The American psyche was troubled by the potential of this technological second place. This planted the seeds of one of America’s greatest military and technological innovations—GPS.

As Sputnik whirled around the planet, two American physicists realized they could use the Doppler Effect to determine its position. This observation led to the first satellite navigation system, successfully tested in 1960.