PBN Spreads in China

Sichuan Airlines has formally signed an agreement with Naverus to provide tailored Performance Based Navigation (PBN) procedures for Lhasa Airport. Naverus also will assist Sichuan Airlines in obtaining regulatory approval to fly the procedures with its fleet of Airbus A319s.  With this agreement, Sichuan becomes the fourth airline in China to contract with Naverus for PBN services. The Naverus-designed procedures incorporate Required Navigation Performance (RNP), an enhanced form of PBN.  The RNP procedures will provide safe, all-weather access and enhanced schedule reliability at Lhasa.  The capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa is located between the rugged Himalayan Mountain peaks at an elevation of 3,650 meters (12,000 feet) creating operational challenges for arriving and departing aircraft. The RNP procedures will allow Sichuan Airlines to safely arrive and depart the airport through rugged mountainous terrain, in all kinds of weather, both day and night. Without RNP, the airport is only accessible during daylight hours in good weather conditions.