Air China Approved for RNP Operations at Jiuzhaigou

The Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) has approved Air China to commence RNP (required navigation performance) procedures at Jiuzhaigou, in the country's western Sichuan Province, following an operational validation.  The flight was conducted in an Air China B-757.

The approval by the CAAC makes Jiuzhaigou the third airport in China to gain access using RNP, joining Lhasa and Linzhi.

Each of the RNP deployments was accomplished with development help from Naverus, which has been working with the CAAC and Air China to develop China's RNP RNAV (area navigation) program since 2004.

Noting that these procedure achievements require substantial expertise across several different disciplines, Naverus CEO Dan Gerrity said, "Our continuing accomplishments in China confirm that the investments we've made, both in our people and in China, have been the right ones."

The Jiuzhaigou airport (ZUJZ) is at an elevation of 11,311 feet. The procedures, which were especially tailored to Air China's B-757 fleet, include approaches, departures, and engine-out procedures for both runways 02 and 20.  Air China has integrated RNP into its training, dispatch and other operations, and in March will complete its first year of commercial service using RNP in Southwest China.  02-07-2007.

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