Want RNAV with that?

Back when Southwest Airlines was the upstart operating out of airports nearby major cities rather than in them, everyone in New England knew about Manchester Airport (KMHT). They even call it the Boston-Manchester Airport, even though it was an hours drive away in a different state. Now Southwest flies to Bostons Logan Airport, and KMHT is more a sleepy reliever field. However, its still an aviation trendsetter, and this trend is open to anyone looking for more efficiency.

jwanwest

Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Manchester Airport is implementing hybrid approach procedures that combine RNAV (GPS) segments with traditional ILS to enhance efficiency and reduce ATC workload for aircraft with varying GPS capabilities.
Advanced RNAV (RNP) approaches, featuring Radius-to-Fix (RF) legs for continuous descents, offer significant fuel savings but require specialized aircraft equipment and FAA authorization, leading to operational challenges in mixed traffic.
Pilots must carefully understand their aircraft's capabilities and system behavior when executing these complex, modern procedures, including vigilance for both new and traditional navigation elements like DME.

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Back when Southwest Airlines was the upstart operating out of airports “nearby” major cities rather than in them, everyone in New England knew about Manchester Airport (KMHT). They even call it the “Boston-Manchester Airport,” even though it was an hour’s drive away in a different state.

Now Southwest flies to Boston’s Logan Airport, and KMHT is more a sleepy reliever field. However, it’s still an aviation trendsetter, and this trend is open to anyone looking for more efficiency.