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 rapidly introduced thousands of WAAS-GPS-based non-precision instrument approaches (e.g., LPV) that provide ILS-like vertical guidance via a generated glideslope, promoting more stable descents than traditional methods.
• These modern constant-angle approaches are generally favored by the FAA and airlines for their enhanced safety and stability, as traditional "dive-and-drive" methods carry increased accident risks due to higher workload and less stable descent profiles.
• Despite the preference for constant-angle descents, traditional "dive-and-drive" non-precision approaches can still offer advantages in specific weather conditions or approach configurations, potentially providing lower minimums or unique opportunities to acquire the runway environment.
• Pilots should carefully evaluate the specific characteristics of an approach, including its technology, design, and current conditions, rather than just minimums, to select the most appropriate and safe method for a given arrival.

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