June 16, 2021

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Consideration Related to MNPS Approval presented by Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) www.sassofia.com (Ref Doc NAT Doc 007)

Approval Introduction North Atlantic High-Level Airspace

  • Must have the approval of either the State of Registry of the aircraft, or the State of the operator.
  • Aircraft operating in RVSM airspace are required to be compliant with the altimetry Minimum Aircraft System Performance Specifications (MASPS) and hold an issued approval.
  • Requires Regulatory Approval

o   The navigation equipment used

o   Installation and maintenance procedures

o   Flight crew navigation procedures employed

o   Flight crew training requirements

Note: NAT HLA is now designated as RVSM airspace at all levels.

Regarding NAT OPS & RVSM

  • All NAT flight crews/operators must be approved for NAT RVSM OPS.
  • Each aircraft intended to be flown in the NAT HLA must have RVSM Airworthiness approval.
  • Approval to be available for Ramp & other Inspections.
  • State database of all NAT HLA and RVSM approvals.
  • States provide data to North Atlantic Regional Monitoring Agency (RMA).

Note: HLA & RVSM approvals maintained by the North Atlantic Central Monitoring Agency (NAT CMA).

  • The CMA database facilitates the tactical monitoring of aircraft approval status and the exclusion of non-approved users.

International General Aviation (NAT IGA) 

  • Aircraft NAT HLA and RVSM approvals constitute a package covering equipment standards, installation, maintenance procedures and flight crew training;
  • State aviation authorities should consider limiting the validity period of approvals and
  • State aviation authorities should maintain detailed records of all NAT HLA and RVSM approvals.

Horizontal Navigation Requirements for Unrestricted NAT HLA Operations

Longitudinal Navigation

  • Time-based longitudinal separations between subsequent aircraft following the same assessed in terms of differences in ATAs/ETAs at common points.

o   Pre-flight procedures for any NAT HLA operation must include a UTC time check and resynchronisation of the aircraft Master Clock (typically the FMS).

Lateral Navigation

  • Navigation performance that should be achieved, in terms of accuracy.
  • Standby equipment required with comparable performance characteristics.
  • Accuracy for NAT MNPSA/HLA operation should only be based on the PBN specifications, RNP 10 (PBN application of RNAV 10) or RNP 4.

Note: All approvals issued after 04 February 2016 must be designated as “NAT HLA” approvals.

Additional Approval Considerations

  • Ensure that in-flight operating drills are approved which include mandatory navigation cross-checking procedures to prevent the aircraft inadvertently deviating from the ATC-cleared route.
  • Namely INS, IRS or GNSS, have demonstrated the requisite navigation accuracy required for operations in the NAT HLA.

o   At least two fully serviceable Long Range Navigation Systems (LRNSs)

  • One Inertial Navigation System (INS)
  • One Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)
  • One navigation system using the inputs from one or more Inertial Reference System (IRS) or any other sensor system complying with the NAT HLA requirement

Note 1: Currently the only GNSS system fully operational and for which approval material is available, is GPS.

Note 2: FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 20-138 provides guidance on airworthiness approval for positioning and navigation systems, to include GPS.

AC 90-105 provides guidance on operational approval for RNP operations in oceanic airspace, including the requirements for RNP 10 (RNAV 10) applicable to NAT HLA operations.

  • Each LRNS must be capable of providing to the flight crew a continuous indication of the aircraft position relative to the desired track.

o It’s highly desirable that the navigation system employed for the provision of steering guidance is capable of being coupled to the autopilot.

Note 3: Dual FMCS is required to be carried.

  • A single INS is considered to be one LRNS; and a FMCS with inputs from one or more IRS is also considered to be a single LRNS.

Next Steps

Follow this link to our Library to find & Download related documents for Free.

Sofema Aviation Services www.sassofia.com provides the following course – EASA Regulation 965 Part SPA – Specific Approvals for Regulatory Authorities PBN, MNPS, RVSM, LVO & ETOPS – Duration  2 Days

For details please see the website or email Team@sassofia.com

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Safety, RVSM, Navigation, SAS blogs, MNPS Approval, Minimum Aircraft System Performance Specifications, Navigation Equipment, GNSS system, FAA Advisory Circular, RNP operations, MASPS