The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a Notice of Proposed Amendment (NPA) updating the requirements and introducing new conditions enabling aircraft to obtain approval for performance-based navigation (PBN) operations. The new sections are specifically dedicated to support global PBN operations, as well as provide an acceptable means of compliance (AMC) and guidance material.

Specifically, this NPA contains an update of the certification specifications for communications, navigation, and surveillance (CNS), which primarily incorporates the certification criteria related to the use of airworthiness and interoperability standards in support of PBN implementation, as well as other minor amendments to the requirements published in Decision 2013.

In addition to providing a certification basis that will allow aircraft operators to benefit from the implementation of PBN routes and procedures, the proposed amendments are expected to facilitate global PBN objectives and to simplify the certification process for both the applicants and EASA. Also, these additions ensure conformity with the performance requirements and functionalities that stem from ICAO’s RNP navigation specifications.

As the EASA proposal incorporates all the PBN certification requirements into a single certification specification, this NPA aims to cancel previous AMCs for new applications. As regards RNAV 1, Joint Airworthiness Authority temporary guidance leaflet 10, EASA will no longer recognize Rev. 1 for type certifications after the publication of the proposed revisions. Comments on the NPA are due April 30, 2018.