Want RNAV with that?

Back when Southwest Airlines was the upstart operating out of airports nearby major cities rather than in them, everyone in New England knew about Manchester Airport (KMHT). They even call it the Boston-Manchester Airport, even though it was an hours drive away in a different state. Now Southwest flies to Bostons Logan Airport, and KMHT is more a sleepy reliever field. However, its still an aviation trendsetter, and this trend is open to anyone looking for more efficiency.

Key Takeaways:

• Modern airport procedures, such as those at Manchester Airport, blend RNAV segments with traditional ILS approaches, allowing non-WAAS GPS aircraft to benefit from streamlined, ATC-efficient routing.
• Advanced RNAV (RNP) approaches utilize features like Radius-to-Fix (RF) for continuous descent turns, saving mileage and fuel, but require specialized equipment and FAA authorization, which can complicate air traffic management.
• The increasing complexity of navigation solutions necessitates that pilots understand their aircraft's system behaviors, especially during transitions between GPS and localizer guidance, and remain vigilant with both new and traditional procedures.

Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->

See a mistake? Contact us.