FAA Qualifies Jeppesen to Provide RNP Consulting Services

The FAA has approved Jeppesen to provide RNP (required navigation performance) services to the aviation industry as one of its qualified consultants.

The action allows Jeppesen representatives to guide airlines and other aircraft operators through the FAA's RNP-operations approval process.  Jeppesen says it will also offer RNP services for non-U.S. operators looking to implement RNP operations in other parts of the world.  The Boeing subsidiary announced last August that it intended to pursue this designation.  Naverus was the first company to be approved for these services.

RNP allows aircraft to navigate within very accurate corridors which enables shorter, more efficient routes, thus reducing fuel burn and emissions.  It also can reduce weather diversions and allow other operational benefits, especially at some airports with problematic terrain or traffic flow issues. RNP procedures are also the foundation for CDAs (continuous descent arrivals), a technique for further reducing fuel burn and noise during descent into an airport terminal area by using idle, or very low power settings from cruise altitude.

FAA AC (advisory circular) 90-101 outlines the requirements for RNP operation and provides guidelines for approval.  05-03-2008.

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