Subject: Required Navigation Performance (RNP)

Approved: May 6, 1999
Revised: December 15, 2001

I. Need for Policy
The traditional method used by ICAO to establish aircraft navigation performance was to prescribe the mandatory carriage of certain airborne navigation equipment. This method constrained the application of advanced navigation systems, including satellite navigation systems.

Based on a concept developed by the ICAO FANS Committee, Annex 6 provisions have been amended to incorporate Required Navigation Performance, thereby obviating the need to prescribe or mandate the use of a specific navigation system.

The related Annex 6 provisions are complemented by ICAO Doc. XXX “ Manual of Required Navigation Performance.

RNP implementation is now in progress

II. Policy

IBAC supports the application of Required Navigation Performance (RNP).

Implementation of a prescribed RNP type requires an obligation by a State(s)

to provide the facilities and/or services necessary to enable users to achieve the required performance.

IBAC requires that planning for the implementation of a prescribed RNP type provide sufficient lead time for aircraft and equipment manufacturers, certification authorities and aircraft operators to certificate and retrofit aircraft and obtain operational approvals to meet the specified deadlines.

Harmonization of Approval Requirements and Processes

With the progressive implementation of RNP, the experience of operators to date with the approval processes and related administrative procedures has revealed significant inconsistencies:

- among various States and various ICAO Regions,

- among various RNP types, viz RNP 10, RNP 5 (Basic RNAV) and MNPS (a de facto, quasi-RNP type),

- among States’ Flight Standards organizations involved in aircraft approvals and operator authorizations.

These inconsistencies have been a source of confusion among States and business aviation operators, a source of confusion for operators themselves and have posed a considerable and unnecessary administrative burden.

IBAC therefore urges action by ICAO to:

- more specifically codify RNP types,

- rationalize and establish consistency in RNP implementation processes in all States/Regions, i.e., on a global basis,<![endif]>

- strongly encourage States to harmonize their processes for aircraft approval and operator authorization (particularly as applicable to international general aviation [i.e., those operations requiring no AOC]), including related terminology and encourage uniform adherence thereto.

Source of Policy: (1) Original, Governing Board, Montreal, May 6-7,1999

(2) Revised, Governing Board, New Orleans December 15, 2001