AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTIIONS HANDBOOK

ATTACHMENT N
REQUIRED NAVIGATION PERFORMANCE (RNP)
OPERATIONAL APPROVAL

1. GENERAL. To determine applicant ability to obtain operational approval of Required Navigation

Performance capability, aircraft eligibility must be determined, appropriate flight crew procedures for the
navigation systems to be used must be identified by the applicant and database use and operating
procedures must be evaluated where applicable. RNP types for en-route operations are established
according to navigation performance accuracy, i.e. RNP -10 (10 NM) with position accuracy 95% of the
flying time in the designated airspace.

2. OPERATIONAL APPROVAL PROCESS. RNP requires that each individual

aircraft/navigation system must be determined to qualify and the individual operator must be approved by
CAA before the operator conducts flight into RNP airspace.

A. Certification Process. The certification process consists of five phases:

Preapplication, Formal Application, Document Compliance, Demonstration and Inspection, and
Certification. The complexity of the process is determined by the applicant's proposed operation.

B. PREAPPLICATION.

(1) Preapplication meeting:

a. review letter of intent;
b. airworthiness documentation;
c. copy of pertinent parts of the Airplane Flight Manual;
d. list the number and type of Long Range Navigation Units;
e. description of Long Range Navigation System integration;
f. description of updating procedures, if used;
g. review training program;
h. RNP operation issues pertaining to RNP airspace and routes;
i. RNP contingency procedures; and
j. insure applicant has appropriate reference data relating to RNP approval, i.e.
FAA Order 8400.12A, ICAO Document 9613, etc.

C. FORMAL APPLICATION. The application should contain the following:

(1) Eligibility Airworthiness Documents. Provide sufficient documentation to

establish that the aircraft has an appropriate AFM, AFM Supplement (AFMS) if
applicable and is otherwise qualified to fly the intended routes. The AFM or AFMS
will state the RNP performance the aircraft/navigation system is certificated for.
(2) Description of Aircraft Equipment.
a. Configuration list of pertinent equipment and components used for long
range navigation and RNP operations.

(3) RNP Time Limits for INS or IRU if applicable.

a. i.e. 6.2 hours of flight time

(4) Operational Training Programs. Flight Crew and Flight Dispatch.

a. Flight planning.
b. RNP concepts and entry into RNP routes or airspace.
c. Contingency procedures.

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d. Flight crew qualification procedures.

e. Documentation of training and qualifications.
f. MEL.
g. Airworthiness of navigation systems.

(5) Operational manuals and checklists.

a. RNP manual or
b. Revise appropriate existing manuals.
(6) Maintenance programs and procedures.
a. Maintenance program and required checks for each navigation system.
(7) MEL. Revise to include RNP operation requirements.

(8) Procedures for follow up; after action navigation error reports.

D. DOCUMENT COMPLIANCE. Review and evaluate documents submitted by

applicant.

(1) Aircraft/navigation system eligibility.

a. RNP compliance is documented in AFM for all aircraft/systems.
b. System requirements/description for each aircraft, i.e. INS, IRU, GPS, etc.
c. Number each system installed.

(2) MEL.
a. To include all RNP related items.

(3) Operational Programs.

a. Area of operations.
b. Flight planning and designators.
c. ATC contingency procedures.
d. Preflight procedures.
e. Enroute procedures prior to entering RNP airspace.
f. Enroute procedures within RNP airspace
g. Updating procedures when required.

(4) TRAINING PROGRAM. The following items, but not limited

to, should be incorporated into existing training programs. Flight crew and Flight Dispatch

a. Flight Planning:

i. Verifying the aircraft is approved for RNP operations.

ii. The RNP time limit has been accounted for.

iii. Verify that the letter is appropriate in block 10 of the ICAO flight plan;

iv. Include the requirements for GPS, such as fault detection and exclusion
availability prediction program must be used(FDE), if appropriate for the
operation.

v. If required for a specific navigation system, account for any restrictions

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related to RNP approval.

b. Preflight procedures at the aircraft for each flight:

i. Review maintenance logs and forms to ascertain conditions of
equipment required for flight in RNP airspace or on an RNP route
and ensure the maintenance action has been taken to correct defects to required
equipment.

ii. During the external inspection of aircraft, particular attention should be

given to the navigation antennas and the fuselage skin surrounding them.

iii. Emergency procedures for operations in RNP airspace or on RNP

routes are not different than normal oceanic procedures with one exception, crews must be
able to recognize and ATC advised when the aircraft is no longer able to navigate to its
RNP approval capacity.

c. Enroute:

i. At least, two long range navigation systems capable of navigating to the

RNP should be operational at the oceanic entry point or if this is not the case, consider an
alternate routing which does not require the equipment or divert for repair.

ii. Before entering oceanic airspace, the aircraft position should be

checked as accurately as possible by using external navigation aids. This
may require DME/DME and or DME/VOR checks to determine navigation
system errors through displayed and actual positions. If the system is
updated, the proper procedures should be followed with the aid of a
prepared checklist.

iii. Operator in-flight operating drills shall include mandatory cross

checking procedures to identify navigation errors in sufficient time to prevent aircraft
from inadvertent deviation from ATC cleared routes.

iv. Crew shall advise ATC of any deviations or failure of the navigation
equipment below the navigation performance requirements or any deviations required for
a contingency procedure.

v. Post flight write-ups.

(1) errors that exceed limits.

d. Flight Crew knowledge.

i. Knowledgeable of RNP operations and concept.

ii. Limitations of RNP navigation systems and capabilities.

iii. Effects of updating.

iv. RNP contingency procedures.

v. MEL.

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vi. Flight Planning.

f. Flight Dispatch Knowledge and Training.

i. Knowledge of RNP operations and concept.

ii. Limitations of RNP navigation systems and capabilities.

iii. MEL.

iv. Flight Planning.

v. RNP contingency procedures.

5. MAINTENANCE PROGRAM.

A. Maintenance Requirements.

B. Maintenance Checks.

C. Configuration and Parts Control.

D. Maintenance Procedures.

E. Reliability Control Program.

F. Maintenance Training.

E. DEMONSTRATION AND INSPECTION.

1. Ensure the application, programs and procedures adequately address all

applicable RNP requirements.

2. Monitor training and qualification checks.

F. CERTIFICATION.

1. Issue Op Specs authorizing RNP approval.

2. Program surveillance to monitor operator program.

3. Conduct enroute inspection over RNP route.

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