Principal Investigator R Hansman
RNAV approach procedures with Required Navigation Performance (RNP) have been a recent focus of NextGen efforts to modernize navigation in the NAS. Unlike traditional types of instrument procedures such as ILS, RNP approaches can be flown without the aid of ground beacons such as VOR stations. By instead relying on satellite and inertial navigation systems, RNP approaches can be designed with a higher degree of flexibility and flown more precisely.
With the recent implementation of public RNAV RNP procedures at major airports in the United States, real tracking data can now be obtained for flights that make use of these approaches. In this study, we aim to use this real-world data to evaluate the benefits of RNP approaches. Of special interest in this study are the potential safety benefits of RNP procedures related to approach stability on final approach, which are evaluated using ASDE-X airport surveillance data.