What is PBN?

PBN, otherwise known as Performance Based Navigation, is Space-based Navigation and Space-based Instrument Flight Procedure Designs (in some cases, backed up by ground-based equipment as reversionary or as secondary navigation) tailored to the performance of the aircraft, based on its equipage. Often, the difficulty in establishing PBN comes down to the aircraft equipage, and aircraft equipage for PBN is normally determined by operators, if there is a need for it, in other words, PBN procedures, especially since a lot of operators retro-fit their aircraft with PBN equipment, however retrofitting comes at an incredible cost to airlines/operators.

So, we often find operators chasing airports/Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP’s) or Civil Aviation Authorities (CAA’s), and airports/ANSP’s/CAA’s chasing operators. At some point, it is necessary for one or the other to put a stake in the ground to decide whether it will be the operator or airport/ANSP/CAA (or state), as to who will drive the change to PBN.

A good example of this, from previous experience, was when an operator, whose aircraft fleet was well equipped as they were new orders, requested PBN procedures not yet available and in fact, those specific procedure types were new in most parts of the world. In this case the operator drove the change, and then the airport adopted the need and progressed it further.  This, then formed part of the country’s published NAVSPEC (another industry buzzword short for Navigation Specification) as it came about at a time when the implementation of PBN was being done for that state, part of which, the outcomes required publishing a mandated NAVSPEC for that territory.

Airlines and some private operators spend a fortune on procuring aircraft with the latest PBN capabilities, and they are only right in wanting to take advantage of the achievable benefits. This is really what Performance Based Navigation is all about. If operators spend the money, and are equipped to a higher level, they deserve to receive the advantages.

What are these advantages you may ask? Well, firstly, depending on the state NAVSPEC, better PBN equipage means better navigation accuracy laterally, as well as vertically. This allows narrower routes to be flown with RNP (another industry buzzword short for Required Navigation Performance), meaning to use that published route, your aircraft (and crew) must be certified to that NAVSPEC and RNP means the FMS (Flight Management System) will monitor the lateral navigation accuracy, and alert the pilot when that accuracy is not being met.

It also means there are less chances that a missed approach (casually known as a go-around) procedure would be required, if landing couldn’t be achieved due to dense, and low-lying fog/mist or snow, what we call Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC), prohibiting the pilot from being able to see the runway to achieve a successful landing. This is because the PBN aircraft equipage allows aircraft to descend to a much lower height, safely, which gives the pilot a much better chance to see the runway to achieve a successful landing, all the while, having an augmented (backed up) vertical path established by satellite-based means. In Europe this is achieved by EGNOS, which is a secondary set of satellites that overlay the existing GPS satellites we know and use. Fewer missed approaches (or ‘go arounds’) means less emissions, therefore less fuel-burn, more on-time arrivals, and of course all of this results in an increase to the bottom-line revenue for an operator.

Not only can this be achieved for the en-route and approach phases of flight, but this can also be achieved to PBN accuracies on departures with RNAV (Area-Navigation) or RNP performance. This permits an increased level of safety on departures especially in bad weather conditions where outside visual reference may be extremely minimal.

Are you looking to establish a new roadmap for your airport or state? Speak to us. We have many years of experience and knowledge and we can assist you in developing your PBN implementation plan.