Air New Zealand's B-737-300s Approved for RNP Ops at Queenstown

The New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority approved Air New Zealand to conduct RNP (required navigation performance) operations at Queenstown in a B-737-300, marking the first time such a procedure as been available for this aircraft type.

U.S.-based Naverus of Kent, Washington, advised and assisted Air New Zealand in developing the tailored RNP approaches and their approval process.

RNP combines the advanced capabilities of modern avionics and GPS to ensure that aircraft stay on narrow, pre-programmed paths, which makes it very useful for safely creating more efficient and reliable approach and departure paths at airports, such as Queenstown, that are surrounded by mountainous terrain.

Air New Zealand estimates that bad weather in Queenstown has prevented it from operating flights on more than 36 days per year.  But Phil Hickman, the airline's manager of fleet support - technical, says with the new Naverus-designed RNP procedures, the airline "expects to significantly reduce the number of Queenstown flights it has to cancel due to bad weather."

Air New Zealand is the latest of several airlines around the world Naverus has assisted with RNP projects.  Partly because of its expertise and growing experience - now over 350 procedures - the FAA recently designated Naverus as a RNP Support Consultant to help other airlines gain their authorizations.  04-04-2007.

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