FAA's Cirillo Previews RNAV/RNP Potential to Increase Capacity

Michael A. Cirillo, the FAA's vice president of system operations believes that RNAV (area navigation) coupled with RNP (required navigation performance) operational criteria can substantially increase the arrival capacity at many large U.S. airports, and that the agency will look into the possibility of third-party contractors to expedite the development of necessary procedures.

Mr. Cirillo discussed the present and future status of RNAV (area navigation) and RNP (required navigation performance) at the RTCA's 2006 Symposium last month.

According to Mr. Cirillo, SAAAR (special aircrew and aircraft authorization required) operational criteria can be used for parallel approaches at 10 to 15 of the largest airports in the U.S., where they might increase arrival capacity by 60% over single runway operations in the same visibility conditions.  Similarly, SAAAR has the potential to increase arrival capacity by as much as 50% over single runway operations at 15 to 20 of the country's busiest airports, when converging runway operations can be maintained in low visibility.  (In this case, SAAAR can be used in special missed approach turning maneuvers to prevent a conflict with a converging runway if a go-around is required.)  And in analogous way, SAAAR profiles can be used at airports which are closely located and their instrument flight paths would otherwise conflict.  As many as 10 to 15 top U.S. airports might increase arrival and departure rates with these SAAAR procedures, Cirillo said.

Finally there are as many as 100 runway ends where SAAAR could reduce landing minimums to lower values than those allowed without RNP, Cirillo estimates.  Lower minimums are possible because of the greater accuracy of RNP can ensure adequate safety margins from nearby obstructions.

Possible Third-Party Procedure Development

In order to expedite the development of RNAV/RNP, Cirillo said the FAA is considering the possibility of allowing these procedures to be developed by third parties, and is evaluating the economic, legal and labor issues that are related to such an initiative. The agency is establishing a team co-lead by Jeff Williams of the Air Traffic Organization and John McGraw of its safety office (AVS) to look into this.  The first meeting was scheduled for June 1.  06-18-2006.

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