AIC for PORTUGAL

1.1  In 1990, the ECAC Transport Ministers agreed a strategy for air traffic control in Europe. The strategy included requirements for the mandatory carriage of on-board RNAV equipment as from January 1998.

1.2  The ECAC strategy is in accordance with the ICAO Future European ATM System (FEATS) which identified RNAV asthe future navigation system in the ICAO European Region.

1.3  The introduction of RNAV will enable States to design and plan routes not necessarily predicated upon point source navaids. This will enable greater flexibility in airspace design and potential user advantages i.e. fuel savings, direct tracks etc. Is should be noted that currently, the primary source of the position data for B-RNAV is VOR/DME. Other alternatives, including the use of GPS, have been accepted by Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) and are set out together with the related conditions for their use in the JAA Temporary Guidance Leaflet No 2 rev 1.

1.4  The implementation of mandatory carriage of B-RNAV equipment has been postponed and is effective since 23 April 1998.

2.1  The purpose of this Circular is to provide notification of the introduction of an AIP amendment concerning the mandatory requirement for the carriage of Basic RNAV (B-RNAV) equipment in the ECAC Airspace with effect from 08 October 1998.

2.2  The circular also provides information to operators on requirements for gaining approval to operate in designated B-RNAV airspace of the member States of ECAC.

3.1  Aircraft, other than State Aircraft, operating on the ATS routes* within the Lisbon UIR above FL 095 shall be equipped with, as a minimum, RNAV equipment meeting RNP5 in accordance with the requirements set out in of ICAO Doc 7030 Regional Supplementary Procedures (EUR RAC section 14). Acceptable means of compliance are set out in the JAA Technical Guidance Leaflet No 2 rev 1.
*an ATS route is defined in ICAO Annex 11 as follows:
A specified route designated for channeling the flow of traffic as necessary for the provision of air trafficservices.Note the term "ATS Routes" used to mean variously airway, advisory route, controlled or uncontrolled route, arrival or departure route etc"

3.2  The requirement to carry VOR and DME equipment remains unchanged as a result of this AIP amendment.

3.3  The amendment becomes effective from 08 October 1998.

4.1  With effect from the 08 October 1998, the carriage of B-RNAV equipment approved for RNP 5 operations will become mandatory on the entire ATS Route Network in the ECAC area including designated feeder routes (SlDs & STARs) in/out of notified TMAs. However, Aircraft not equipped with RNAV but able to achieve RNP 5 navigation accuracy may use lower airspace ATS VOR/DME defined routes below FL 095 as published.

4.3  Having the capability to operate on RNP 5 routes defend by VOR DME does not imply that the aircraft is suitably equipped to operate on BRNAV routes in the ECAC area.

4.4  The EUROCONTROL RNAV Standard Doc. 003-93, AREA NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS (RNAV), defines the functional requirements for B-RNAV equipment.

5.1  In order to receive B-RNAV approval, on board navigation equipment will be required to provide en-route lateral navigation accuracy and along track position fixing accuracy of +/- 5 NM or better for 95% of the flight time (RNP-5).

5.2  The Portuguese Civil Aviation Authority, Instituto Nacional da Aviac„o Civil (INAC), will provide the requirements necessary for operators to obtain approval to operate in a B-RNAV environment in Portugal. In exceptional cases, where approval requirements are not available from the State of Registry or State of the Operator, ECAC member States may require that the operator(s) obtain certification from a member State of ECAC.

5.3  The Joint Aviation Authorities contain additional information in respect of certification and operational approval for B-RNAV operations in Temporary Guidance Leaflet No 2 Issue 1 (also known as AMJ20x-2) published.

6.1  Provision of a navigation infrastructure, which will enable users to achieve the required navigation accuracy, will remain the responsibility of States.

6.2  Until at least 2005, ECAC member States will continue to provide the VOR/DME infrastructure necessary to enable operators to meet the required system use accuracy. Operators should be aware that DME is expected become the primary source of positional information in the ECAC area and the maintenance of VOR beyond 2005 may not be guaranteed (ICAO Implementation Strategy of the Future Air Traffic Management System in the European Region (FEATS), Part 2, paragraph. 2.2.2 refers).

7.1  The navigation system use accuracy achievable by an RNAV system is normally dependent upon both the navigation aid infrastructure and the airborne equipment. It is the responsibility of the operator to ensure that the required system use accuracy can be achieved when planning to operate in designated B-RNAV airspace.

7.2  Note: where GPS position is the only input to the RNAV system, it is incumbent upon operators to confirm that the necessary coverage from GPS is provided for the intended time of flight (JAA TGL N.2 rev 1 paragraph 5.2 refers)

8.1  Further information on policy, planning and implementation issues for RNAV can be obtained from:

8.2  Further information in respect the certification and operational approval for RNAV operations should be address to:

9.1  It is anticipated that ECAC Member States will make a decision on the mandatory carriage of RNAV equipment meeting RNP 1 requirements in 1998. The implementation of RNP 1 is not foreseen before 2005

10.1  This Circular supersedes the AIC reference number 01/98 issued on 20 January 98.