Your runway is non-instrument and/or ANS are not provided but you aim for GNSS based Required Navigation Performance APproaCH (RNP APCH) Operations? Even if your airport is serving traffic operating in VFR only, or your runway is non-instrument one (but ICAO ANNEX 14 compliant), there is an option to implement one of these Instrument Flight Procedures due to new definition of noninstrument runway in ICAO ANNEX 14 Amendment 11-B "Non-instrument runway: A runway intended for the operation of aircraft using visual approach procedures or an instrument approach procedure to a point beyond which the approach may continue in Visual Meteorological Conditions (Note: Visual aids need not necessarily be matched to the scale of non-visual aids provided. The criterion for the selection of visual aids is the conditions in which operations are intended to be conducted." Later implying that The runway infrastructure requirements need not be any different than visual procedures to noninstrument runways since the final segment will always have the same VMC requirements.
EGNSS for INSTRUMENT APPROACH Operations
Essential information for AIRPORTS & HELIPORTS
It is a fact that EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service; a Satellite Based Augmentation System) capable aircraft on-board navigation equipment has ben proliferated in the last few years, making especially Private and GA aircraft operators eligible to potentially conduct GNSS based RNP APCH Operations. However, most of these small operators are operating at smaller airports and airfields which are not serving air traffic under IFR.
Key requirements for the airports seeking for implementation of GNSS based RNP APCH Operations There are few key requirements to be fulfilled by airports and heliports seeking for the implementation of GNSS based RNP APCH Operations.
The best option for the airport licence holders aiming at introduction of the GNSS based RNP APCH operations at non-instrument runways is to initiate the process with their National Aviation Authority (NAA) and Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP).
Ground manoeuvring area related
Airport or heliport needs to be ICAO ANNEX 14 compliant. The reason for this requirement is a fact that IFR are applied to RNP APCH Operations, implying mandatory control of obstacle environment (both in the RNP APCH procedure design phase known as Obstacle Assessment, and after implementation known as Obstacle Control) and corresponding safety feature of the procedure itself (also known as risk control through applied Collision Risk Model in the procedure design phase). Requirements for ANNEX 14 compliant runway and heliport’s FATO/TLOF area markings and lightning are established due to visual manoeuvring phase of each instrument flight procedure, and thus RNP APCH ones.
ATM/ANS related In order to implement any RNP APCH Operation at given airport or heliport, certain Air Navigation Services (ANS) need to be provided for separation of aircraft conducting RNP APCH operation under IFR from other IFR traffic as well as IFR from VFR traffic. This requirements is highly depending on the type of airspace within airport or heliport is situated, traffic volume and type of flight rules followed.
RNP APCH — APV SBAS (Approach Procedures with Vertical guidance Satellite Based Augmentation System) DESIRED FLIGHT PATH STRAIGHT-IN APPROACH
During design phase, an adjustment of terminal airspace might be needed to accommodate operational changes brought by introduction of the new RNP APCH Procedure, especially when existing approach procedures are nonRNAV ones. This airspace related requirement is fulfilled by your ANSP. OBSTACLE PROTECTION SECONDARY AREA
OBSTACLE PROTECTION PRIMARY AREA
1
Your operational environment is obstacle restricted and/or procedure requires curved approach? RNP Authorization Required Approach In order to perform RNP AR operations there are three key aspects of this AMC that must be considered. The first is that where an operator/ manufacturer satisfies all criteria contained herein, they should be considered operationally ready to conduct RNP AR operations using procedure design and alternatives defined by the ICAO PBN RNP AR Procedure Design Manual.
Rotorcraft-specific RNP APCH operations at heliports and Helicopter Landing Sites If your heliport is ICAO ANNEX 14 compliant you can aim for APV SBAS Operations to be implemented. However, if your heliport is non-ICAO ANNEX 14 compliant, being Helicopter Landing Site such as Public Interest Site at which you frequently operate (e.g. HEMS) you still are able to benefit from Approach with Vertical Guidance based on SBAS, flight procedure being ended in Point-in-Space (PinS) whose visual segment is conducted under VFR minimas and is known as PinS with "Proceed VFR" visual segment. In cases when no APV SBAS can be implemented at ICAO ANNEX 14 compliant heliport, you can aim for PinS procedure with "Proceed VISUAL" visual segment. These PinS procedures provide certain flexibilities to rotorcraft operators not only when operating at non-instrument ground manoeuvring areas, but when approach directions dictates displacing Final Approach Segment after which visual manoeuvring allows rotorcrafts to reach remote TLOF area. Also, PinS procedures allow Simultaneous Non-Interfering (SNI operations at the airports serving mixed airplane and rotorcraft traffic. For more information on rotorcraft-specific RNP APCH Operations, please check information in accompanying leaflet titled "Rotorcraft Operators"
2
DESIRED FLIGHT PATH
OBSTACLE EVALUATION REA for RNP ≤ 0.3
The second is that there are three elements of the procedure design criteria that will only be used on the occasions where there is a specific operational need or benefit. As a result, operators can be authorised for all or any subset of these types of procedures: → Reduced lateral obstacle evaluation area on the missed approach or departure → (also referred to as a procedure requiring RNP less than 1.0) or → When conducting a RNP AR approach using a line of minima less than RNP 0.3 → and/or a missed approach or departure that requires RNP less than 1.0. and → Ability to fly a published ARC (also referred to as a Radius-to -Fix leg)
RNP AR APCH