FAA Designates Naverus as an RNP Approval Consultant

The FAA has designated Naverus its first, and currently only, qualified consultant to help airlines gain approval for RNP (required navigation performance) operations.

While a growing number of airlines are recognizing the operational benefits of RNP, including new capabilities and fuel savings and have approached the FAA requesting approval to take advantage of them, only two airlines have been approved to fly them in the U.S. so far.  By creating a list of qualified consultants, the FAA intends to make it easier for airlines to work through the multifaceted approval process.

RNP allows airlines to use the capabilities of today's advanced FMCs (flight management computers) to fly highly precise predetermined paths designed to reduce flight distances with lower thrust settings, and provide new all-weather operational capability in some cases.

Seattle-based Naverus, a private company founded in 2003, has designed the majority of these procedures being used today, for airline customers that include Air China, Air New Zealand, JetBlue, Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Blue and WestJet, as well as manufacturer's Airbus and Boeing.

Besides helping airlines develop their programs and procedures, Naverus assists regulatory agencies to establish their standards, and aircraft manufacturers to verify their equipment compliance.  Hal Andersen, a cofounder of Naverus, and its vice president of flight operations, said that while airlines have quickly recognized the value of RNP in their operations, they are "often frustrated by the implementation requirements."

Flt Tech Online recently interviewed Steve Fulton, the chief technology officer of Naverus and also a co-founder, at the Avionics 07 Conference in Amsterdam.  03-20-2007.

Click here to become a registered Flt Tech Online subscriber and receive headlines delivered to your e-mail each week

Click here to go back to the headlines