New SAA technology to cut travel time  
Learn all about this “Required Navigational Performance” (RNP) technology.

South African Airways has become the first airline in Africa to receive approval for new departure and approach procedures which will improve safety and efficiency on SAA’s route network.  

The airline received approval from the South African Civil Aviation Authority and is using the procedures, called Required Navigational Performance, starting on all flights to and from Cape Town International Airport initially.  Required navigation performance is a type of performance-based navigation that allows an aircraft to fly a specific path between two 3D-defined points in space.  A navigation specification that includes a requirement for on-board navigation performance monitoring and alerting is referred to as an RNP specification. One not having such a requirement is referred to as an RNAV specification. RNAV and RNP systems are fundamentally similar.


RNP was the result of a partnership between SAA and a subsidiary of Airbus ProSky, Quovadis, and uses advanced on-board navigation technology and space-based GPS signals.  It is expected to increase scheduling integrity to improve on-time performance, increase revenue and reduce the environmental impact.

“Once the technology is rolled out onto SAA’s regional and international network, the long term benefit is not only a substantial saving in fuel costs but also a significant improvement in in flight safety, particularly when flying in areas with limited ground-based navigational infrastructure,” SAA said.   

The RNP is also going to decrease travelling time by providing shorter flight paths. It has been calculated that this could save the airline over 600 000 kilograms of fuel a year.  “This milestone signifies South Africa’s readiness for a wider Performance Based Navigation deployment in line with recommendations set out by the International Civil Aviation Organisation,” SAA said. It also paves the way for further developments and technology to enhance safety and operational efficiency, the airline said.

More info regarding this RNP technology is available from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Required_navigation_performance

You are required to login with your correct Username and Password in order to view the contents of this page.

You are required to login with your correct Username and Password in order to view the contents of this page.

You are required to login with your correct Username and Password in order to view the contents of this page.

You are required to login with your correct Username and Password in order to view the contents of this page.

You are required to login with your correct Username and Password in order to view the contents of this page.

You are required to login with your correct Username and Password in order to view the contents of this page.

You are required to login with your correct Username and Password in order to view the contents of this page.