RNP stands for “required navigational performance,” and it indicates a special level of RNAV instrument approach made possible by a collective effort between the approach designer—in this case, Honeywell—the operator, the airport, and the FAA. Alaska Airlines was an early pioneer of the concept, which helped open up airports in its route structure such as Juneau, Alaska, to improved instrument approaches as GPS-based RNAV came into maturity.
Honeywell Receives FAA Approval for Aspen RNAV (RNP) Approach
Key Takeaways:
- RNP (Required Navigational Performance) approaches are advanced, GPS-based RNAV instrument procedures designed through collaboration to enable safe access to challenging airports that cannot accommodate standard precision approaches.
- The newly approved RNP N approach for Aspen's Runway 15 offers significant operational improvements, including lower minimums (537 ft, 1.25-mile visibility), a stable 3.5-degree approach, guided missed approach, and the ability to conduct night operations and use Category D aircraft.
- To utilize RNP approaches, pilots must receive approved training, aircraft must meet specific RNP capabilities (e.g., RNP 0.1, Radius to Fix legs), and operators must obtain FAA approvals like LOA/Ops Spec C384 and C081.
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