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