The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) has urged the European Commission to help implement performance-based navigation rules (PBN-IR) in the aviation industry.
Speaking at the Business Aviation – Boosting Regional Opportunities and Connectivity event, EBAA Secretary-General Athar Husain Khan told delegates: ““The adoption of performance-based navigation implementing rules is an important step towards increased access to airports, but for this progress to become tangible, it is important that the Commission and EASA [the European Aviation Safety Agency] support local and regional players in this transition. This is a concrete solution to the capacity challenges we see across the region.”
Performance-based navigation allows the navigational requirements of an aircraft to be adjusted based on external factors such as surveillance and air traffic control requirements or operational capability; as opposed to traditional navigation protocols, which rely on the use of sensors such as navigation beacons or waypoints. By minimising the need for sensor-specific routes and operations, PBN-IR can reduce costs, allow for more efficient airspace use and simplify the operational approval process for civil aviation authorities.
Stan Medved, Director of Corporate Aviation at Shell Aircraft Limited, told Business Aviation attendees: “Innovative technologies on aircraft and at airports will open up a range of airports currently underserved, allowing business aviation to really bring their customers where they need to be anywhere in the region,” while another panellist advocated for improved communication between airlines, aviation authorities and airports.
The field of business aviation has been an early adopter of performance-based navigation and most business aircraft are already equipped with the necessary technology. The EBAA is calling for wider adoption of PBN-IR to streamline processes and increase airport access.
Jyrki Paajanen, Policy Officer in the Aviation Safety Unit at the European Commission’s Department for Mobility and Transport, said: “Thanks to the air navigation strategy, we agreed with Member States that we will roll out satellite-based navigation, including a compulsory programme of implementation of performance-based navigation approaches and decommissioning of old technologies.”
