Everything You Need to Know about RNAV GPS Approaches

Friday, September 07, 2018 at 09:00 PM ET

Verified

Relevant Discussion: AIM 1-1-17 through 1-1-20, 1-2-1 through 1-2-3, 5-1-16, 5-3-4, 5-4-5 through 5-4-7, P/C Glossary, OpSpec C052, FAA-H-8083-16, AC 20-138, AC 90-97, AC 90-100, AC 90-101, AC 90-105, AC 90-107, AC 90-108, TSO-C161, TSO-C162, TSO-C196, FAA Order 8260.19 Garmin

Key Takeaways:

RNAV GPS approaches are widespread, utilizing GPS and WAAS, and generally require a Required Navigational Performance (RNP) of 0.3 for accuracy.
Approaches are categorized by their guidance: LNAV provides lateral-only guidance to a Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA), while LP offers increasing lateral sensitivity to an MDA and is WAAS-mandatory.
APV (Approach with Vertical Guidance) approaches, such as LNAV/VNAV and LPV, provide both lateral and vertical guidance to a Decision Altitude (DA); WAAS is crucial for these, with LPV offering the lowest minimums and operational equivalence to an ILS.

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RNAV GPS (aRea NAVigation) stand-alone instrument approaches have become commonplace as GPS and the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) hit the mainstream.