A three month public consultation by Gatwick Airport is taking place to implement a system called P-RNAV, or Precision Area Navigation. P-RNAV is a navigation specification that uses the benefits of improved airborne navigation capabilities to require a track-keeping accuracy of ±1 nautical mile (compared with ±5 nautical miles for the next best standard) for at least 95% of the flight time, together with high integrity navigation data requirements.
The system, which has been trialled on a limited basis at the airport for 6 years, utilises the full navigation capability of modern aircraft and improves the track keeping for departing flights.
The proposed implementation is in line with the Civil Aviation Authority's (CAA) policy for the application of performance based navigation in UK airspace, which effectively requires all conventional departure routes from airports to be replaced with a minimum of a P-RNAV standard.
The consultation aims to get views on the proposed implementation of the P-RNAV system on all current departure routes and the process for transitioning all departing aircraft from Gatwick Airport onto the new standard of navigation within five years.
The consultation, run in accordance with CAA guidelines, will run until 19 October 2012 and responses will be accepted up to Friday 2nd November.