International Training:Area Navigation Pre-flight
PRNAV BRNAV RNAV 10 RNP4 RNAV1 RNP1
Topics
1. Authorizations & Documents
2. Required Equipment
3. Review Contingencies
Objectives
Know the requirements for operating in each airspaceKnow pre-flight duties for area navigation
DocumentsEquipment
MEL
Airspace RequirementsPre-flight or before entering the planned various airspaces verify:
The Aircraft and Crew are authorizedRequired Equipment is operational
During operations in the airspace procedure or ATS route ensure:
You are meeting the navigation performance requirements
The first thing you need to know is whether the aircraft and flight crew are qualified to operate in the airspace, on a procedure or along an ATS route. Controllers assume that the flight crew and aircraft are suitably qualified for PBN operations. We will only cover the Pre-flight requirements in this module. Operations is covered in module three.
Aramco Operations SpecificationsB034 PRNAV & BRNAVB037 B038 RNAV 10B035 RNAV2B036 RNP4B039 MNPSB046 RVSMB063 RNAV1 RNP1
OP’s spec authorizations for area navigation are under these paragraphs of part B.
BRNAV/PRNAV Authorization
PRNAV BRNAV Ops spec approval. PRNAV approval automatically includes BRNAV approval.
RNAV 10 Authorizations
The RNAV (RNP) 10 authorizations are for each area of operation.
RVSM & MNPS Authorizations
These ops specs allow RVSM and MNPS operations. These are not covered in this area navigation training.
RNAV/RNP Authorizations
Here are various levels of PBN approvals.
Authorized Areas
B050 lists the areas where the approvals are valid.
Approach Authorizations
Finally, here are the approach authorizations in paragraph C052.
Documents
Ensure these authorization documents are on-board.
Required Equipment
Now that we know what operations are authorized, we need to ensure that we know what equipment we need for the flight.
Europe Mandatory Equipment
TCAS II with version 7 or later8.33 frequency radiosBRNAVFM immunityMode S
To fly in Europe, there are some basic equipment requirements.
RNP 1Depart
ureRNAV 1Arrival RNP APCH
App
RNAV 2Enroute
RNP 4Oceanic
Navigation Specifications Change During Flight
Recall that during the flight, you are constantly transiting different airspace. To know what equipment is required, you need to know both the available navigation specifications and the navigation specifications you can use.
Always Check the Details
Be careful, navigation specifications with the same designator may vary between States as they depend on the State’s NAVAID infrastructure.
• The Nav Spec is based on that country’s available infrastructure (navaids)
• What equipment you need to fly an RNAV 1 route, for example may vary
• Some PRNAV SID’s and STAR’s list the equipment on the plate
Required RNAV System FunctionsBRNAV
Continuous display of the aircraft’s position relative to the desired track to be displayed to the pilot flying on a navigation display situated in the pilot’s primary field of view
information depicting aircraft position shall be displayed in the non-flying pilot’s primary field of view
Display of distance and bearing to the active (To) waypointDisplay of ground speed or time to the active (To) waypointThe ability to store a minimum of four waypointsAppropriate failure indication of the aircraft systems, including failure of the navigation sensors
PRNAV
These system functions are the minimum required to conduct operations. Note only one RNAV system is normally required for both BRNAV and PRNAV.
Single installed system comprised of one or more sensors*
An RNAV computer
Control display unit, and a navigation display(s)
heading situation indicator (HSI), or course deviation indicator (CDI)
The system is monitored by the flightcrew
In the event of a system failure the aircraft retains the capability to navigate relative to ground based navigation aids
*Certain PRNAV procedures require 2 RNAV systems
Plan B
Unlike dual systems required for oceanic airspace, if you had an FMC failure during RNAV 5/BRNAV/PRNAV you still can proceed in the airspace or procedure. But, it that one system fails, you will not have any RNAV information available. You need to be prepared for radar vectors or switching to raw data navigation means immediately.
Required RNAV System Functions
Certain (Rare) airports require dual RNAV systemsThe plates indicate when two systems are required
Because of the lack of required redundancy for most P-RNAV arrivals, dual RNAV systems are required for certain specific terminal P-RNAV procedures, e.g., procedures below the applicable minimum safe altitude/minimum obstacle clearance altitude, or where radar performance is inadequate.
RNAV 1 (2) Accuracy Requirements
RNAV 2 Routes: A flight technical error (FTE) of 1.0 NM is acceptable for RNAV 2 operations. RNAV 2 will be used for en route unless otherwise specified
RNAV 1 DPs and STARs: An FTE of 0.5 NM is acceptable for RNAV 1 operations. RNAV 1 will appear on all RNAV SID and STAR charts
The requirements for RNAV 1 and 2 are identical, while some operating procedures are different. You just need an RNAV system capable of 95% accuracy to the required limits. Notice you are only allowed to deviate off the magenta line by half of the limit in RNAV 1 and RNAV 2 operations.
Recall you can see your FTE on the Progress Page 2
RNAV 5 Equipment Requirements
Notice the equipment requirements for RNAV 5 are slightly different than for BRNAV.
RNAV system capable of RNAV 5IRS only (2 hour limit)GPS updatingDME/DME updatingVOR/DME updating
VOR or VOR/DME using conventional means
N767A Flight Management System
The FMS on N767A meets the RNAV requirements for all of the area navigation specifications that we are authorized to fly. We just have to make sure it’s operational and the required sensors (navaids) are available.
RNAV 10 Operations
Recall that Oceanic operations require both FMS’s operational or it’s off to the blue spruce routes.
Flight management Systems
Required Equipment is Operational
You need to check for any inoperative equipment.
Identify Inoperative Equipment
Deferred Maintenance Items Non Routine Work Log
First find any inoperative equipment.
Check the MEL
Next check the Minimum Equipment List (MEL). The MEL lists airspace or procedural limitations for inoperative equipment. Note we cannot conduct PRNAV operations with a failed FMC.
MEL Notations
Be careful, sometimes the airspace type is not identified. It is up to you to check.
En-route limitations
The MEL also identifies airspace limitations while en-route.
Navaid InfrastructureIf required by a procedure, a check will need to be made to confirm that updating will use a specific navigation aid(s), or to confirm exclusion of a specific navigation aid
Check NOTAMs to verify the health of critical DMEs for navigation relying on DME. You should assess their capability to navigate (potentially to an alternate destination) in case of failure of critical DME while airborne
During the pre-flight phase, you should ensure sufficient means are available to navigate and land at the destination or at an alternate aerodrome in the case of loss of RNP APCH airborne capability
Perform your normal preflight items. Check the availability of the navigation infrastructure, required for the intended operation, including any non-RNAV contingencies, for the period of intended operation. Do not use a procedure if doubt exists as to the validity of the procedure in the navigation database.
GPS Availability – Flight Plan
Predicted outages of GPS capabilities are in the flight plan.
International Agencies
European UnionJoint Aviation AuthorityEurocontrolEuropean Aviation Safety AgencyEuropean Civil Aviation ConferenceSchengen
When filing flight plans internationally, there are sometimes lot’s of agencies to deal with. For instance these are the agencies involved when flying in Europe. The ICAO flight plan is necessary for international flight.
Old ICAO Flight Plan
To be assigned PBN routes, the FAA developed an ICAO flight plan. This flight plan format has now been modified. The new flight plan still must be updated to reflect any applicable inoperative equipment. BRNAV only equipment capabilities will include S and R. S is for standard RNAV equipment (VHF Nav/Com). Also note the phraseology required when you are unable to meet the area navigation requirements.
Flight Plan Remarks
Notice the remarks section is where the different RNAV authorizations are defined.
2012 ICAO Flight Plan
As of November 15th 2012, the ICAO flight plan is updated with PBN capabilities in fields 18 and 10.
ICAO Flight Plan 2012 Fields 18 & 10
Here’s a closer look at fields 18, 10a and 10b. Notice the PRNAV identifier is now gone and the letter R stands for PBN instead of RNP. To see a short training module on the new flight plan go to https://trainingzone.eurocontrol.int/fpl2012.htm .
Normal Operating ProceduresWhen a navigation database is installed, the database should be checked to ensure that it is current before the flight
Perform your standard pre-flight as you always do. The onboard navigation database must be appropriate for the region of intended operation and must include the navigation aids, waypoints, and coded terminal airspace procedures for the departure, arrival and alternate airfields.
Other NAVAIDs (e.g., VOR, DME, and ADF) should be selected to allow immediate crosschecking or reversion in the event of loss of RNAV capability
Verify the aircraft’s present position is entered correctly
Check the active flight plan by comparing the charts, SID or other applicable documents, with the map display and CDU
confirmation of the waypoint sequencereasonableness of track angles and distancesany altitude or speed constraintswhere possible, which waypoints are fly-by and which are fly-over
Legs Map
Oceanic/Remote Operations
For oceanic and remote operations such as MNPS, remember to accurately set the clocks to UTC.
RVSM Operations
A ground cross-check of the altimeters must show less than 75 feet difference.
Review Contingencies
Finally review any special contingency procedures for the intended airspace that your flight will take you in.
Oceanic Conti ngencies
Unable RNP
Lose an FMC
Lost CommDisplays blank
Guidance
FAA AC 90-96A provides guidance for PRNAV and BRNAV. AC 90-100A provides guidance for RNAV 1 and 2. Now let’s finish with a couple of questions.
What is required to fly in RNAV 10 airspace?
Both Airworthiness and Operational Approvals
The required equipment operational
Maintain within 10 nm of the route centerline
All of the above
Select the best answer
The sensors required for PRNAV operations is always the same.
True
False
Select the correct answer
Airspace and procedural limitations for inoperative equipment can sometimes be found in the MEL.
True
False
Select the correct answer
On to the next module