Design, implementation and flight testing of advanced RNP to SBAS LPV approaches in Germany

The recent publication of the advanced Required Navigation Performance (RNP) specifications enable constantly precise aircraft path guidance without demanding expensive equipment and crew certification from the operator. Combined with the operational roll-out of satellite based regional augmentation for Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), it enables new possibilities such as implementing instrument approach procedures at airports, whose location previously forbade such. Here, we design and flight test two advanced RNP procedures at the airports of Saarbrücken and Egelsbach containing a fixed radius turn which terminates at the final approach fix of a 3D guided final. Results show that the track can be followed with a precision of below 0.1 nautical miles both in manual and in automatic flight with a light piston twin aircraft and with a fast business jet. Effectively, the procedures presented in this paper decouple Saarbrücken airport from French airspace and Egelsbach airport from the high density traffic of the Frankfurt (Main) International control zone.