Characterizations of navigation performance in terminal performance-based navigation operations

Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) serves as a cornerstone for transforming the United States (US) National Airspace System (NAS) from a system that primarily relies on ground-based navigation and surveillance to a satellite-based system. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been leveraging PBN capabilities in the design of advanced arrival and departure procedures in terminal airspace surrounding major US airports. Implementations of PBN procedures have improved system efficiencies and provided operational benefits. Future progress in the design of terminal PBN procedures and further gains in operational efficiencies will increasingly rely on advancing applicable aircraft separation standards that safely capitalize on PBN-enabled improvements in navigation accuracy and precision. Safety assessments of such advances often rely in part on quantitative characterizations of actual navigation performance. The recent implementation and ongoing flight validations of Required Navigation Performance (RNP) and Area Navigation (RNAV) Visual Flight Procedures (RVFP) at The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) now enable characterizations of actual navigation performance in terminal operations achieved along straight and curved segments of PBN procedures. This paper reviews key areas for advancing PBN-based terminal arrival and departure operations, describes the methodology developed to acquire and analyze surveillance data of RVFP operations, and presents quantitative characterizations of achieved navigation performance.