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AIM 

4/20/23 

capability will be listed in the PBN box. The separate Equipment Requirements box will list ground

based 

equipment and/or airport specific requirements. On procedures with both PBN elements and ground

based 

equipment requirements, the PBN requirements box will be listed first. (See FIG 5

4

1.) 

c.  Other RNP Applications Outside the U.S. 

The FAA and ICAO member states have led initiatives in 

implementing the RNP concept to oceanic operations. For example, RNP

10 routes have been established in the 

northern Pacific (NOPAC) which has increased capacity and efficiency by reducing the distance between tracks 

to 50 NM. (See paragraph 4

7

1.

d.  Aircraft and Airborne Equipment Eligibility for RNP Operations.

 Aircraft eligible for RNP operations 

will have an appropriate entry including special conditions and limitations in its AFM, avionics manual, or a 

supplement. Operators of aircraft not having specific RNP eligibility statements in the AFM or avionics 

documents may be issued operational approval including special conditions and limitations for specific RNP 

eligibilities. 

NOTE

 

Some airborne systems use Estimated Position Uncertainty (EPU) as a measure of the current estimated navigational 

performance. EPU may also be referred to as Actual Navigation Performance (ANP) or Estimated Position Error (EPE). 

TBL 1

2

U.S. Standard RNP Levels 

RNP Level 

Typical Application 

Primary Route 

Width (NM) 

 

Centerline to 

Boundary 

0.1 to 1.0 

RNP AR Approach Segments 

0.1 to 1.0 

0.3 to 1.0 

RNP Approach Segments 

0.3 to 1.0 

Terminal and En Route 

1.0 

En Route 

2.0 

Oceanic/remote areas where performance

based horizontal 

separation is applied. 

4.0 

10 

Oceanic/remote areas where performance

based horizontal 

separation is applied. 

10.0 

1

2

3.  Use of Suitable Area Navigation (RNAV) Systems on Conventional Procedures and 

Routes 

a.  Discussion. 

This paragraph sets forth policy, while providing operational and airworthiness guidance 

regarding the suitability and use of RNAV systems when operating on, or transitioning to, conventional, 

non

RNAV routes and procedures within the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS): 

1. 

Use of a suitable RNAV system as a Substitute Means of Navigation when a Very

High Frequency (VHF) 

Omni

directional Range (VOR), Distance Measuring Equipment (DME), Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN), 

VOR/TACAN (VORTAC), VOR/DME, Non

directional Beacon (NDB), or compass locator facility including 

locator outer marker and locator middle marker is out

of

service (that is, the navigation aid (NAVAID) 

information is not available); an aircraft is not equipped with an Automatic Direction Finder (ADF) or DME; 

or the installed ADF or DME on an aircraft is not operational. For example, if equipped with a suitable RNAV 

system, a pilot may hold over an out

of

service NDB. 

2. 

Use of a suitable RNAV system as an Alternate Means of Navigation when  a VOR, DME, VORTAC, 

VOR/DME, TACAN, NDB, or compass locator facility including locator outer marker and locator middle 

marker is operational and the respective aircraft is equipped with operational navigation equipment that is 

compatible with conventional navaids. For example, if equipped with a suitable RNAV system, a pilot may fly 

a procedure or route based on operational VOR using that RNAV system without monitoring the VOR. 

1

2

Performance

Based Navigation (PBN) and Area Navigation (RNAV)