NPAs: Stable Or Not?

Over the past few years the FAA has added new non-precision instrument approaches at a remarkable rate-thousands of procedures with names like LNAV and VNAV, and ILS-comparable LPV approaches-2208 LPV approaches alone. The common denominator among these relative newcomers to an instrument pilots nomenclature is their dependence on the wonders of GPS, in particular, Wide Area Augmentation System-based (WAAS) GPS. The primary benefit of a WAAS-enhanced approach is availability of a pseudo glideslope generated by the in-cockpit GPS navigator, bringing ILS-like vertical guidance where theres no ILS.

Key Takeaways:

• The FAA has significantly expanded WAAS-enhanced GPS non-precision approaches (e.g., LPV, LNAV/VNAV), which provide ILS-like vertical guidance for a stable, constant-angle descent, moving away from traditional "dive-and-drive" methods.
• These GPS-guided constant-angle descents offer increased stability, reduced pilot workload, and improved safety, being comparable to ILS in many aspects, and are increasingly favored by airlines and the FAA.
• However, traditional "dive-and-drive" approaches retain unique benefits in specific conditions, such as potentially lower minimums or better visual angles for runway acquisition, and allow for quicker descents to the Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA).
• Pilots must evaluate the specifics of each approach type, weather conditions, and equipment capabilities when choosing, as both modern GPS-guided and traditional non-precision approaches present distinct advantages and considerations.

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