It's very rare that far-out technological solutions represent anything that can be realistically achieved in the near-term but Performance Based Navigation is one area where significant efficiency gains can be made swiftly.
In Flight's latest Environment Special Report, we examine the recent deal to speed the roll-out of next-generation satellite-based technology which will be air navigation's principal contribution to improving airspace efficiency.
In the process of asking how significant such technology will be in helping to shrink aviation's carbon footprint, those nice guys at US procedures design specialist Naverus sent us some very cool videos of what can be achieved when using state-of-the-art navigation techniques so here are some of our favourites:
Meanwhile, Airservices Australia earlier this month said it was planning the next stage of its required navigation performance (RNP) project that it hopes will lead to a national roll-out of RNP procedures at major airports throughout the country.
Stage one of the Brisbane Green Project was launched in early 2007, with Qantas operating RNP approaches and departures, developed by Airservices and Naverus, at Brisbane International airport, the country's third busiest. The project was a world first integration of RNP approaches and departures into a busy international airport, says Airservices.
The Brisbane Green Project was highlighted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation recently when it and global aviation bodies signed a declaration calling for the rapid implementation of PBN.
Here are some more examples:
