Kip Powick Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 A US company has finished certification on the world's longest RNP RNAV approach, to a new airport in the mountains of Tibet. (ZUNZ) The new Linzhi airport is at an elevation of 9,670 feet, and due to the surrounding mountainous terrain, could not be served by ground-based nav aids. Therefore, the Chinese government commissioned the development of an RNP approach, and the one that was developed has a winding approach path 95 miles long, with 108 waypoints. Watch this video of the first jet approach into the airport just this month: Long Approach Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helping Hand Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 Thanks for posting it, Kip... I wasn't quite sure if I could make it work! HH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hudson Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 Excellent video and very exciting technology Kip...thanks for the link. - Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex 9A Guy Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 Very cool. This is the company that designed all WestJet's RNP approaches. On their website under "services" there is a Google Earth KMZ file which depicts the most "entertaining" of their approach designs including the ones into YLW that they did for WestJet. If you have Google Earth installed on your computer just download the zip file and double click on the file inside to open it in Google Earth. For those who haven't tried Google Earth it is FREE and a great peice of software. Oooops spelling!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hudson Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 Re, "Very cool. This is the company that designed all WestJet's RNP approaches." I was wondering that...it had the same flavour...that was a fabulous video as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex 9A Guy Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 I was wondering that...it had the same flavour...that was a fabulous video as well. Thanks Don, The more I see of RNP the more impressed I am. As a recent convert from the B737-200 to the NG and all it's bells and whistles I must say that it is a constant learning experience. A lot of fun but a lot of work at the same time. If you get a chance to look at the depictions in Google Earth particularly the ones into QueensTown NZ you will see the ultimate (IMHO) use of radius to fix turns especially the approach onto runway 05 all on a 3 degree gradient path. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rookie Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 I didn't realize the 757 could do RNP approaches........I thought they were unique to the 737NG models. Unless it isn't a RNP .1 approach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rattler Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 I didn't realize the 757 could do RNP approaches........I thought they were unique to the 737NG models. Unless it isn't a RNP .1 approach. The 757 we flew on was qualified to fly RNP 0.15, but Air China is limited to RNP 0.30 in the initial phase of the operations approval http://www.aviationnow.com/avnow/news/chan.../aw092506p1.xml Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex 9A Guy Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 That is similar to what WestJet went through during the data gathering and evaluation stages of RNP also. We set RNP 0.1 containment but flew to RNP 0.3 minimums. This resulted in a few "Unable req'd nav perf - RNP" messages when the signal degraded but my understanding is there were not enough to be statistically concerning. Now I believe we are waiting for someone in YOW to give us the final approval to fly to RNP 0.1 minumums. Right now the minimims are not significantly different, in most cases RNP 0.1 minimums are 250 to 300 feet and RNP 0.3 are 350 to 450 feet. It is very nice to be able to set what is classified as a non precesion approach in criuse and have a constant descent profile all the way down to a couple of hundred of feet above terra firma. This is of course barring any deviations or changes from our radar veiwing collegues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hudson Posted October 12, 2006 Share Posted October 12, 2006 Ex 9A Guy; Are you using your FDA data to route-prove these approaches at all? Just curious...haven't had a chance to chat with Mike P. (of your FOQA/FDA Program) yet but I'm going to... - Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groundeffect Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 I find it interesting, 'specially after flying into Katmandu on a DC3 in 1982..then hiking through the Himalayas. But for the Chinese to claim an RNAV approach with multiple waypoints the most difficult in the world..I take umbrage. Anyone who's done the Loc only into Castlegar, or NDB approach into any number of BC or northern airports during the winter..I'm sure can relate. Cool video though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canus Chinookus Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 ground effect, maybe I'm misreading your post. but i think you're missing the point. RNP makes an otherwise difficult or impossible approach easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinnaker Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 groundeffect, Having done both LOC into YCG many times and the RNP; the RNP is MUCH easier. I think it's perhaps harder to 'design' an RNP approach 95 miles long, but the end result is simplicity for the crew with proper training (they are so simple that one needs to personally fight complacency). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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