TIA to get satellite-based navigation system
KATHMANDU, MAY 25 -
Nepal’s only international airport Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) is preparing to install the Required Navigation Performance Approach (RNP-AR) system. According to an official of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the new system will come into operation in seven months.
RNP is a satellite-based navigation system and procedure, and introduces technological innovations in areas such as weather forecast, digital communications and networking providing efficiency and operational benefits to airports and aircraft.
The RNP concept permits flights in any airspace within prescribed accuracy tolerances and without the need to fly directly over ground-based navigation facilities.
“Aircraft having instruments based on RNP are enabled with automatic flight condition and other flight information from satellite,” said Tri Ratna Manandhar, project director for RNP and deputy director general of CAAN.
Currently, TIA has a conventional VOR/DME, a combined radio navigation station for aircraft. This non-precision approach has descent restrictions of more than 2,000 ft above the airport level but RNP approaches to 0.3 nautical miles (NM). RNP was initially developed to address problems of terrain and weather challenged airports.
TIA is one of the difficult international airports in the world due to its geographical terrain restrictions. After RNP is installed, TIA will be able to allow more aircraft to fly more closely together on more direct routes, reducing delays. It also benefits the environment and the economy through reductions in carbon emissions, fuel consumption and noise, according to a CAAN official.
Similarly, aircraft will not require information to conduct flights from nearby airports after the installation of the system. As of now, flights have to be informed about the geography, climate and aircraft positions from the radio navigation station or the traffic controller stationed on the ground before flights.
“RNP enables access to all the information through satellite and it appears on the cockpit screen,” Manandhar said. The system also encourages aircraft to operate at night; as a result, traffic hassles at the airport could be reduced significantly. TIA is planning to operate round-the-clock service with growing congestion at the single runway airport.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) had urged early implementation of RNP. Many states have already introduced the system.
The cost of RNP has been estimated at US$ 500,000. Airbus subsidiary Quovadis has agreed to install RNP at TIA free of cost, CAAN said. Similarly, Qatar Airways has agreed to support on system validation and test flights while other airlines have agreed to provide a simulator to train pilots.
“ICAO and a flight procedure training centre in Beijing will provide training for Nepali technicians on RNP procedures,” said TIA general manager Ratish Chandra Lal Suman.
At present, 27 international airlines are operating from TIA. Following Nepal Tourism Year 2011 and the projected rise in passenger movement, significant renovations and installation of new technology and expansion of the departure and arrival lounges, among other initiatives, are being conducted at TIA.
Source: Kantipur
Nepal’s only international airport Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) is preparing to install the Required Navigation Performance Approach (RNP-AR) system. According to an official of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the new system will come into operation in seven months.
RNP is a satellite-based navigation system and procedure, and introduces technological innovations in areas such as weather forecast, digital communications and networking providing efficiency and operational benefits to airports and aircraft.
The RNP concept permits flights in any airspace within prescribed accuracy tolerances and without the need to fly directly over ground-based navigation facilities.
“Aircraft having instruments based on RNP are enabled with automatic flight condition and other flight information from satellite,” said Tri Ratna Manandhar, project director for RNP and deputy director general of CAAN.
Currently, TIA has a conventional VOR/DME, a combined radio navigation station for aircraft. This non-precision approach has descent restrictions of more than 2,000 ft above the airport level but RNP approaches to 0.3 nautical miles (NM). RNP was initially developed to address problems of terrain and weather challenged airports.
TIA is one of the difficult international airports in the world due to its geographical terrain restrictions. After RNP is installed, TIA will be able to allow more aircraft to fly more closely together on more direct routes, reducing delays. It also benefits the environment and the economy through reductions in carbon emissions, fuel consumption and noise, according to a CAAN official.
Similarly, aircraft will not require information to conduct flights from nearby airports after the installation of the system. As of now, flights have to be informed about the geography, climate and aircraft positions from the radio navigation station or the traffic controller stationed on the ground before flights.
“RNP enables access to all the information through satellite and it appears on the cockpit screen,” Manandhar said. The system also encourages aircraft to operate at night; as a result, traffic hassles at the airport could be reduced significantly. TIA is planning to operate round-the-clock service with growing congestion at the single runway airport.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) had urged early implementation of RNP. Many states have already introduced the system.
The cost of RNP has been estimated at US$ 500,000. Airbus subsidiary Quovadis has agreed to install RNP at TIA free of cost, CAAN said. Similarly, Qatar Airways has agreed to support on system validation and test flights while other airlines have agreed to provide a simulator to train pilots.
“ICAO and a flight procedure training centre in Beijing will provide training for Nepali technicians on RNP procedures,” said TIA general manager Ratish Chandra Lal Suman.
At present, 27 international airlines are operating from TIA. Following Nepal Tourism Year 2011 and the projected rise in passenger movement, significant renovations and installation of new technology and expansion of the departure and arrival lounges, among other initiatives, are being conducted at TIA.
Source: Kantipur
