"Keeping an eye on the competition"
A reader sent me this link to a short Westjet video on their new RNP (Required Navigation Performance) system. You are probably asking yourself, why is an Air Canada pilot promoting Westjet? I know about 40 Westjet pilots and we all have a job to do. Gee, I must be drinking some of that Westjet kool-aid. :)
I sure wish I had this system up and running when I flew into Cozumel, Mexico last night. We did an archaic 10 DME ARC VOR offset approach. This technology dates back to the fifties and sixties.
We at Air Canada are getting on board with the GPS approaches. Safety is number one, so GPS and RNP all help elevate the safety bar. Plus it translates into fuel savings.
There....how's that for some Air Canada kool-aid? :)
Thanks "Anon" for sending the link!
8 comments:
Last year on a Hope Air flight, I flew the NDB/DME approach into Kapuskasing with a 15 DME arc transition, with conditions near minima. I would have been grateful even for a VOR approach that day.
David. It's true a VOR approach is more accurate than an NDB approach, but for an Airbus it tends to be a work out especially when we do it, "selected, selected."
I guess my point being is, with the technology the way it is, these archaic approaches should be a thing of the past. Wishful thinking I guess?
Thanks for the comments. Gone to San Diego where it's Localizer only approach.
Doug
Enjoy the LOC approach, Doug! I don't mind them, as long as I don't have to circle in low vis (like I did last week at KBVY).
I've already experienced a military GPS-jamming exercise once, so I'd still want to have some kind of ground-based approach aids as a backup (and stay current using them). I'm thinking more seriously, however, about ponying up the $10-12K to put an IFR-certified GPS in my PA-28-161. That's 20-25% of the value of the whole plane, though, and that's without adding an autopilot as well.
Will it be RNP10 or something lower? Its cool because on the Embraer PDF it will tell you in purple lettering what RNP it is at the moment... so like it will display sometimes RNP2 or RNP.30 . Pretty neat :)
Hi Doug,
Just out of curiosity, when does air Canada plan on having the baby Airbus certified for RNP approaches/GPS approaches?
Nehal
David. As far as the LOC approach, I'll volunteer my F/O to fly the first leg. :)
Actually, we flew to Cozumel together. It's rare to be paired with the same F/O back to back. I pity him. :)
Yes, any system needs a back up, and like you said, it's one reason why they still exist.
Wow, a 12K GPS in your airplane! You're getting into some serious stuff. When Air Canada gives me the keys to a $60 million dollar airplane one would think
it would include a few toys. But it's coming!!!!
However, the entire Airbus fleet is CAT III Autoland capable. Yet, the number of times I've actually had to use it....zero.
Off to California...
Nehal. Everyone will be put through training during their recurrent simulator training so realistically it will take just under a year.
Hi Daniel. Good question as to what RNP rating it will have. Sounds like the Embraer is well equipped. But it's a junior airplane so I'm hoping I'll never see it. :)
Post a Comment