11/2/2017

Performance Based
Navigation

MALKEET SINGH
DGM (ATM-FPD)

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A method of navigation enabling

aircraft to fly on any desired flight
path:
◦ within the coverage of referenced NAVAIDS,
or
◦ within the limits of the capability of self-
contained systems, or
◦ a combination of these capabilities

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On-board performance monitoring and alerting is concerned with the

performance of the area navigation system.

 "on-board" explicitly means that the performance monitoring and

alerting is affected on board the aircraft and not elsewhere, e.g. using
a ground-based route adherence monitor or ATC surveillance. The
monitoring element of on-board performance monitoring and alerting
relates to flight technical error (FTE) and navigation system error (NSE).
Path definition error (PDE) is constrained through database integrity
and functional requirements on the defined path, and is considered
negligible.

 "monitoring" refers to the monitoring of the aircraft's performance as

regards its ability to determine positioning error and/or to follow the
desired path.

 "alerting" relates to the monitoring: if the aircraft's navigation system

does not perform well enough, this will be alerted to the air crew.

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RNAV 2
2 Nautical Miles 95% of time
Track Centerline

2 Nautical Miles 95% of time

RNP 2 ALERT TO PILOT

2 Nautical Miles 95% of time

Track Centerline

2 Nautical Miles 95% of time

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On-board monitoring and alerting

In procedurally controlled airspace, separation

minima and route spacing on RNP specifications
are expected to provide a greater benefit than
those based on RNAV specifications.

This is because the on-board performance

monitoring and alerting function could alleviate
the absence of ATS surveillance service by
providing an alternative means of risk mitigation.

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Conventional RNAV RNP

Routes Narrow Obstacle
Clearance Areas
Waypoints
Current Ground Seamless
NAVAIDs Vertical
Path

“curved”
paths

Limited
Increased Airspace Optimized
Design
Efficiency Use of Airspace
Flexibility

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-WAYPOINTS

-TURN TYPES

-LEG TYPES

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 A position defined by lat and long in WGS

coordinates.
 A waypoint may be a named point in space or
associated with existing NAVAIDs,
intersections or fixes.
 A waypoint is most often used to indicate a
change in direction, speed, or altitude along
the desired path.
 There are two types of waypoints: fly-over
and fly-by.

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 A change in direction at a fly-by waypoint

requires the navigation system to” anticipate"
the turn in order to intercept and fly the next
leg. The amount of distance of turn
anticipation (DTA), prior to the waypoint
depends primarily on the aircraft speed and
the angle of the turn.
 At a fly-over waypoint, the aircraft will not
turn to intercept the following leg until
passing over or abeam the waypoint. Aircraft
speed and angle of turn will influence the
resulting flight path.
 Fly-over waypoints are shown on charts
within a circle.
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FLY BY Turns

Fly-by turns are a key characteristic of an RNAV flight

path.

The RNAV system uses information on aircraft speed,

bank angle, wind and track angle change to calculate
a flight path turn that smoothly transitions from one
path segment to the next.

However, because the parameters affecting the turn

radius can vary from one plane to another, as well as
due to changing conditions in speed and wind, the
turn initiation point and turn area can vary.

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How an aircraft will fly an RNAV, STAR or SID

procedure depends upon the type of waypoints
and legs used in the procedure.

There are two types: fly-over and fly-by.

The fly-by waypoint is the most common and is

preferred for use in designing terminal RNAV
procedures.

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 The path before, after or between

waypoints.
 Leg types are identified by a two-letter
code.
 First character describes the path (e.g.,
heading, course, track, etc.) and
 The second character specifies the end point
(e.g., the path ends at an altitude, distance,
fix, etc.).
 These coded leg types are used in the
aircraft navigation database, but are not
shown on the procedure chart.
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 Two categories of leg types exist

 Bounded leg types both begin and end at a
waypoint
 Unbounded leg types either begin or end at a
unspecified or conditional point (e.g., at an altitude)
rather than a waypoint
 23 possible leg types in the current ARINC
supplement, however only a small subset (5)
of these are required for use in RNAV arrival
and departure procedures.

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 Commercial database providers "code"

terminal RNAV procedures for use in aircraft
navigation systems.
 The accepted coding format was created by
Aeronautical Radio Incorporated (ARINC3) and
is known as the ARINC 424 Navigation
Database Specification.
 The specification describes over twenty
different "path terminators" known as leg
types. Leg types describe the path before,
after or between waypoints.

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 A two-letter code describes the path (e.g.,

heading = V, course = C, track = T, etc.) and
it’s ending point (e.g., an altitude = A,
distance = D, fix = F, 4 etc.).

 Although not explicitly depicted on charts,

controllers and pilots can determine leg types
(and thus expected aircraft behavior) by
reading the chart narrative and viewing the
graphic depiction.

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 A "track" is a magnetic course between waypoints

that must be intercepted and flown. This is the
most common leg type and is coded as “TF."
 A "course" is a magnetic course to a waypoint
that must be intercepted and flown. A "CF" leg
differs from a "TF" only in that it does not have a
beginning waypoint.
 "Direct" describes a direct course from an
aircraft's position to a waypoint. A "DF" leg allows
an immediate turn to a waypoint without
requiring intercept of a particular course.

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 A "heading" is a magnetic heading to be flown.

Heading legs are subject to wind drift. A "VA"
leg is a heading to an altitude and a "VM" is a
heading to a "manual termination." The "VA" leg
is often used as the first leg of an RNAV
departure. The "VM" leg is most often used to
end an RNAV STAR on, for example, a
downwind leg heading.

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IF leg type
 The Initial Fix or IF Leg defines a
database fix as a point in space

 It is only required to define the

beginning of a route or procedure

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TF leg type
 Track to a Fix or TF Leg defines a great
circle track over ground between two
known databases fixes
 Preferred method for specification of
straight legs (course or heading can be
mentioned on charts, but designer
should ensure TF leg is used for coding)

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Radius to Fix (RF) defines a

constant radius turn
between two waypoints

Constant Radius Arc or RF

Leg defines a constant
radius turn between two
database fixes, lines
tangent to the arc and a
center fix

*not all attributes are required for every

approach procedure
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 Course to a Fix or CF Leg defines a specified

course to a specific database fix
 TF legs should be used instead of CF
whenever possible to avoid magnetic
variation issues

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 Direct to a Fix or DF Leg defines an unspecified

track starting from an undefined position to a
specified fix
 Procedure designers should take into account the
FMS flight path depends on initial aircraft heading
as well

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 Heading to an Altitude termination or VA Leg

defines a specified heading to a specific Altitude
termination at an unspecified position

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 Heading to a Manual termination or VM Leg

defines a specified heading until a Manual
termination

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 Differences in the databases along with

variations in aircraft performance may result
in slightly different tracks between RNAV
aircraft on the same procedure. This will be
most apparent during turns and where fly-
over waypoints are used.

 Tracking of a defined path by an RNAV

aircraft is as accurate as, or better than, that
of aircraft flying conventional routes.

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BEFORE AFTER
 Departures are  Departures fly RNAV
vectored tracks (not vectored)
◦ Headings, altitudes – Headings, altitudes and
and speeds issued by speeds are automated (via
controllers avionics)
◦ Large number of voice – Voice transmissions
transmissions required reduced by 30-50%
 Significant  Reduced Track
dispersion Dispersion
◦ Tracks are
– Tracks are more
inconsistent and
consistent and more
inefficient
efficient
 Limited exit points
 Additional exit points
available

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Arrival Holding
Fix

Arrival Holding
Fix

Arrival Holding
Fix

Arrival Holding
Fix

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Thank you

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