Timescales

As a means of overcoming the current inconsistencies and shortcomings in ECAC Terminal Airspace, EUROCONTROL, in co-operation with the ECAC Member States and JAA, has produced a plan for the implementation of P-RNAV operations where operational requirements justify the application of RNAV. Precision RNAV (P-RNAV) provides the navigational performance and functionality required for RNAV terminal area procedures. The ECAC States have agreed that P-RNAV is an important means of solving the current Terminal Airspace RNAV situation.

There is currently no mandate for P-RNAV. Therefore, conventional (non-RNAV) Terminal Area Procedures will continue to be provided allowing aircraft not appropriately approved for Terminal Airspace RNAV operations to continue operating. However, operators that are not approved for P-RNAV operations and operating conventional procedures will be unable to take advantage of the benefits of their RNAV equipment. Additionally, in Terminal Airspace where RNAV procedures have been introduced to handle traffic more effectively, the application of conventional procedures and radar vectoring by Air Traffic Service Providers to accommodate non-P-RNAV approved flights, may adversely affect airport capacity and increase delays. To what extent accommodating a mix of RNAV and non-RNAV approved aircraft results in operational disadvantages to non-RNAV approved aircraft, depends on the local circumstances in the TMA concerned.

As indicated above, some published Terminal Airspace RNAV procedures with minimum flight altitudes at or above MSA/MRVA may require only B-RNAV approval, but those procedures will be based on en-route design principles and associated limitations.

Note: Whilst no ECAC-wide mandate for the carriage of P-RNAV is foreseen, some States may require P-RNAV certification for IFR operations in notified terminal airspace in order to improve airspace use, reduce costs and minimise environmental impact.

IMPLEMENTATION TIMESCALES

At the latest by November 2005, aircraft operating on RNAV terminal area procedures in major ECAC Terminal Airspace will be subject to the following requirements.

• For RNAV procedures which include route segments below the appropriate Minimum Flight Altitude (e.g. Minimum Sector Altitude (MSA); Minimum Radar Vectoring Altitude (MRVA)), P-RNAV approval will be required.
• For RNAV procedures which do not include route segments below the appropriate Minimum Flight Altitude (e.g. Minimum Sector Altitude (MSA); Minimum Radar Vectoring Altitude (MRVA)), and designed in accordance with en-route design principles, B-RNAV approval may suffice. Otherwise, except where explicitly stated that the carriage of P-RNAV certified equipment is not required, the only acceptable alternative for such RNAV procedures is P-RNAV.

It should be emphasised that the final dates indicated above, i.e. after which the phasing in of P-RNAV where required is complete, are not necessarily the relevant dates for aircraft operators. As pointed out, P-RNAV will be progressively introduced in the time period leading up to the agreed final date, and aircraft operators will need to plan for obtaining P-RNAV approval on the basis of the planning of P-RNAV introduction in the Terminal Airspace where they operate. This planning depends on the requirements of the individual States and Air Traffic Service Providers.

The ECAC States have agreed to issue AICs in September 2003, which will provide the State specific plans regarding the introduction of P-RNAV requirements in their Terminal Airspace.

OPERATIONAL APPROVAL

Aircraft and operator P-RNAV approval will be based on the requirements detailed in JAA TGL-10 and will consist of aircraft certification and operational approval by the appropriate State Authority. JAA TGL-10 is available from the State Authorities but may also be downloaded from the Document Library.

Assessments have shown that a considerable percentage of airframes are already P-RNAV capable, i.e. meet the technical requirements of JAA TGL-10. Some aircraft will need modifications to comply with the P-RNAV requirements. Operators are encouraged to contact original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) where there is doubt regarding available equipment or solutions for the types in question.

Before applying to their State Authority for P-RNAV approval, aircraft operators should ensure all requirements of TGL-10 are met, including the operational criteria set out in section 10 of TGL-10. These include flight crew training and assurance of data base integrity.

It should be noted that when operating RNAV Terminal Airspace procedures, it is of the utmost importance that the procedures are operated in accordance with the approval status of aircraft and flight crew. It is a legal responsibility of the pilot in command to ensure the safe operation of the aircraft in accordance with the published requirements and the associated approval status.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further information on the introduction of Precision RNAV may be obtained from your State Authority or from the EUROCONTROL AMN User Support Cell (USC): amn.user.support@eurocontrol.com or tel +32-2-729-4633/4781, fax +32-2-729-5185.

The FAA (USA)'s equivalent of JAA TGL-10 is AC90-96A. For further information on the FAA (USA) P-RNAV equivalent requirements, please contact the FAA AFS400 (tel +1 202 3854586).

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