Commercial and Business Aviation Advisory Circulars

European Airspace Basic Area Navigation (RNAV) Operations

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this Commercial & Business Aviation Advisory Circular (CBAAC) is to inform air operators and private operators that only RNAV (Area Navigation) equipped aircraft having a navigation accuracy meeting required navigation performance (RNP) 5 may operate under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) in European airspace designated for Basic RNAV operations.

APPLICABILITY

The information in this CBAAC applies to Canadian air operators and private operators holding an Air Operator Certificate issued under Part VII or a Private Operator Certificate issued under Part VI, Subpart 4 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) who plan operations in European airspace designated for Basic RNAV operations

REFERENCES

The following references provide additional guidance and advisory material on approval to operate in European airspace designated for Basic RNAV operations:

1. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Doc. 7030/4-EUR, Part 1, Rules of the Air, Air Traffic Services and Search and Rescue.
    
2. ICAO Doc. 9613, Manual on Required Navigation Performance (RNP).
    
3. Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) leaflet No 2 rev. 1 AMJ 20X2 (to become AMC/IEM 20X2) - JAA Guidance Material on the Airworthiness and Operational Criteria for the Use of Navigation Systems in European Airspace Designated for Basic RNAV Operations.
    
4. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Advisory Circular (AC) 90-96 - Approval of U.S. Operators and Aircraft to Operate Under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) in European Airspace designated for Basic Area Navigation (BRNAV/RNP 5)

BACKGROUND

The Aeronautics Act, Part I, Aeronautics, Application of Foreign law, section 4, subsection (2) states "Every person exercising the privileges accorded by a Canadian aviation document in a foreign state and every Canadian aircraft operated in a foreign state shall comply with or be operated in accordance with the applicable aeronautics laws of that state." Regional Supplementary Procedures contained within ICAO Doc. 7030/4-EUR, Part 1, Rules of the Air, Air Traffic Services and Search and Rescue, have been amended to require RNP 5 for operations under IFR in European airspace designated for Basic RNAV operations after April 23, 1998. The amendment also requires the State of Aircraft Registry or State of the Operator to verify compliance of the air operator’s navigation system to RNP 5.

The Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) have published advisory material for the airworthiness approval of navigation systems for use in European airspace designated for Basic RNAV operations. This material was developed by the European Organization for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE) Working Group 13 (WG-13) and was commonly referenced as AMJ 20X2. Revision 1 to AMJ 20X2 was expanded to include specific guidance on the approval and use of stand-alone Global Positioning System (GPS) based equipment for the purposes of conducting Basic RNAV operations. The JAA are re-organizing their leaflets and AMJ 20X2 will likely become AMC/IEM 20X2.

In addition, the FAA has published AC 90-96 - Approval of U.S. Operators and Aircraft to Operate Under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) in European airspace designated for Basic Area Navigation (BRNAV/RNP 5).

BASIC RNAV

Basic RNAV is an RNAV equipment and operations standard developed by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC). The ECAC includes 35 states including Great Britain, Ireland, Iceland and Scandinavia, and continental Europe east to and including Turkey, Romania, and Poland, with the exception of the territory of the former Yugoslavia. The required position accuracy for Basic RNAV is +/- 5 nautical miles (nm), 95 percent of the time (RNP 5). Beginning on April 23, 1998, Basic RNAV became mandatory as the primary means of navigation in much of ECAC airspace. All aircraft operating IFR in this airspace require RNAV equipment that meets Basic RNAV standards. Basic RNAV approved aircraft that experience a loss of RNAV capability while enroute, but still meet the RNP 5 navigation accuracy requirement (achievable with VHF Omini-directional Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) will be restricted to operations on routes which States may designate within their lower airspace.

RNAV equipment that automatically determines aircraft position from one or more of the following systems, and has the capability of establishing and following a desired path, is likely to meet Basic RNAV standards:

1. VOR/DME; and/or
    
2. DME/DME.

The following navigation systems, subject to the limitations mentioned, are likely to meet Basic RNAV standards:

1. Inertial Navigation System/Inertial Reference System (INS/IRS) shall automatically update position from other radio navigation aids. INS/IRS which do not automatically update position from other radio navigation aids (for example systems which require manual input of latitude/longitude, bearing/distance, or similar data) are deemed to meet Basic RNAV for a maximum of two hours since the last alignment/position update performed on the ground.
    
2. LORAN C. The system shall be approved for IFR enroute operations and the system should comply with FAA AC 20-121A. LORAN C coverage shall be adequate for the route of flight (LORAN C signal coverage is limited in Europe).
    
3. Global Positioning System (GPS). Systems shall: be approved under Technical Standard Order (TSO) C129a; have Receiver-Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM) or an equivalent means of integrity monitoring; and incorporate pseudorange step detection and health word checking in accordance with TSO C129a. Traditional navigation equipment (VOR, DME and/or Automatic Direction Finding (ADF)) shall be installed and serviceable.

APPROVAL PROCESS

Canadian air operators and private operators obtain Basic RNAV approval which meets ECAC/JAA requirements through their Principal Operations Inspector (POI) as follows:

1. The operator shall submit to Transport Canada information which confirms that the operator’s RNAV systems comply with JAA leaflet No 2 rev. 1 AMJ 20X2 - JAA Guidance Material on the Airworthiness and Operational Criteria for the Use of Navigation Systems in European Airspace Designated for Basic RNAV Operations.
    
2. The operator shall submit to Transport Canada an amendment to their operations manual which addresses information on operating procedures within ECAC Basic RNAV airspace, including:
    
   1. procedures to be followed in the event of a loss of RNAV capability while in Basic RNAV airspace or prior to entering Basic RNAV airspace;
       
   2. minimum equipment necessary to meet Basic RNAV requirements;
       
   3. any restrictions imposed by the ECAC/JAA standards on the RNAV equipment being used; and
       
   4. any other information relevant to the company's operations in Basic RNAV airspace.

   The operator shall submit to Transport Canada an amendment to their RNAV training program which addresses operations within ECAC Basic RNAV airspace.

3. Transport Canada approval of the above amendments to the operator’s Operations Manual and Training Program with respect to ECAC Basic RNAV operations shall constitute the operator’s approval to operate in ECAC Basic RNAV airspace.
    
4. The operator shall indicate approval to operate in ECAC Basic RNAV airspace by including the suffix "R" in item 10 "Equipment" on the ICAO or Canadian Flight Plan.

CONCLUSION

The POI, with the assistance of the Regional Airworthiness office, will confirm that the operator’s RNAV systems comply with JAA leaflet No 2 rev. 1 AMJ 20X2 - JAA Guidance Material on the Airworthiness and Operational Criteria for the Use of Navigation Systems in European Airspace Designated for Basic RNAV Operations. New aircraft may have a note in the flight manual that indicates the navigation equipment meets Basic RNAV standards. Aircraft manufactured in 1997 or before likely will not meet these standards. There is no requirement for an operator to identify the navigation equipment necessary to meet the Basic RNAV standards in the Minimum Equipment List (MEL), but it is advisable to do so. The normal approval process for a change in the operator’s Operations Manual and Training Program shall be followed. There is no requirement to issue a Letter of Authority or Operations Specification for ECAC Basic RNAV.

For additional information on Basic RNAV, contact Commercial and Business Aviation, Operational Standards (AARXB), (613) 990-1096.

FUTURE DISPOSITIONS

This CBAAC will remain in effect until such time as future changes are made to European airspace requirements.

M.R. Preuss
Director
Commercial & Business Aviation