Jeppesen to provide performance based navigation airspace procedures to NAV CANADA to boost takeoff/landing efficiency

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., 9 May 2013. Jeppesen, part of Boeing Digital Aviation, has entered into an agreement with NAV CANADA to design and deliver area navigation with required navigation performance (RNAV RNP) instrument flight procedures based on performance based navigation (PBN) principles.

Performance Based Navigation is the foundation of the FAA's NextGen modernization program, Europe's SESAR program, and other future air traffic management concepts. The benefits of PBN include: increased runway throughput and reductions in aircraft fuel burn and greenhouse gas emissions.

"This agreement marks an exciting milestone for Canadian airspace modernization and has been eagerly anticipated by NAV CANADA and its customers," says Mark Van Tine, vice president, Boeing Digital Aviation and Jeppesen CEO. "Working together, we will deliver optimized design and airspace procedures that will allow for more optimized operations through reduced fuel consumption and less airline miles flown."

RNAV differs from traditional navigation where aircraft navigate from beacon to beacon or are given vectors (steered) by air traffic control, by allowing aircraft to fly a course within a network of navigation beacons or waypoints, based on GPS guidance. RNP specifies a minimum level of onboard navigational performance monitoring and alerting.

RNAV and RNP specifications facilitate more precise lateral and horizontal aircraft routing and enable aircraft to descend from altitude without intermediate level offs, which reduces fuel consumption and aircraft noise emissions.