Air New Zealand Credits RNP for Reduced Disruptions

Air New Zealand says the RNP (required navigation performance) technology fitted into six of its B-737-300s has already reduced the number of disruptions it would have suffered from low visibility conditions at Queenstown.

Phil Hickman, Air New Zealand's manager fleet support - technical, says the airplane's RNP technology and accompanying new flight procedures have enabled flights to operate into and out of the airport, which is surrounded by mountainous terrain, when poor weather would have otherwise caused diversions and cancellations.

Air New Zealand estimates that without RNP, inclement weather in Queenstown would prevent it from operating there as many as 36 days a year, which can inconvenience thousands of holidaymakers and tourists.  Its new RNP procedures can allow it to continue flying there during many of these periods.  05-05-2007.

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