RNAVbased

RNAVbased is a term used in aviation to describe navigation concepts, procedures, and systems that depend on area navigation (RNAV) as the primary means of determining an aircraft’s position and guiding its flight path. RNAVbased enables flight along any suitable course within the coverage of the aircraft’s navigation system, rather than constraining movement to conventional ground-based navaids such as VORs or NDBs. It is a core element of performance-based navigation (PBN).

In practice, RNAVbased systems rely on satellite navigation, typically GNSS, supplemented by other sensors such as inertial navigation systems, to provide continuous positioning. The onboard navigation database contains routes, waypoints, and procedures that the aircraft can fly, enabling flexible routing and autonomous path following. While GNSS is common as the primary sensor, RNAVbased operations may incorporate additional sources or augmentation to meet required performance levels.

RNAV-based routes and procedures are used in enroute airspace, terminal areas, and instrument approaches. Examples include RNAV routes that replace traditional VOR-based paths and RNAV-based approaches (including GPS-based procedures) in various airspace worldwide. These procedures can offer more direct routing, improved capacity, and potential efficiency gains, subject to navigation accuracy and equipment availability.

Operational and regulatory considerations accompany RNAVbased operations. Operators must ensure certified avionics, up-to-date navigation databases, and adherence to specified performance requirements (for example, RAIM or RNP standards). While RNAVbased systems enhance efficiency, they also rely on reliable navigation signals and database integrity, and contingency plans are required for navigation outages or degraded performance.