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) instrument approaches are widely used, offering various levels of precision and guidance by leveraging GPS, the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), and sometimes baro-VNAV systems.
Approach types range from lateral-only guidance, such as LNAV (flown to an MDA without increasing sensitivity) and LP (WAAS-mandatory, with increasing sensitivity to an MDA), to approaches with approved vertical guidance (APV).
APV approaches include LNAV/VNAV (providing lateral and vertical guidance to a Decision Altitude (DA) via WAAS or baro-VNAV) and LPV (WAAS-mandatory, offering ILS-like performance to a DA with the lowest minimums).
RNAV approach charts typically provide multiple minimums (e.g., LNAV, LP, LNAV/VNAV, LPV) to accommodate different aircraft equipment capabilities and ensure operational flexibility, with LNAV serving as a universal fallback.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Pass the Test. Take to the Skies

Easily become an airplane or commercial pilot online! Courses designed by industry experts can help you pass FAA tests and get into the sky!

Enroll Now

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