RNAV
Transportation & Travel abbreviation · Aviation
| Stands for | Area navigation |
|---|---|
| Categories | Transportation & Travel |
RNAV stands for Area navigation, an aviation abbreviation.
Navigation method allowing an aircraft to fly any desired path between waypoints rather than only directly to or from ground beacons. Modern RNAV relies mainly on GPS, often blended with DME and inertial data, and underpins T- and Q-routes, RNAV departures and arrivals, and GPS approaches.
Example: We were cleared for the RNAV (GPS) Runway 32 approach, LPV minimums, with visibility one mile.
Usage notes
RNAV specifications are labeled by accuracy, so RNAV 1 requires the aircraft to stay within 1 nautical mile of the intended path 95 percent of the time. RNP adds onboard performance monitoring and alerting to that requirement. US charts title GPS approaches "RNAV (GPS)," while many other countries use "RNP" or "RNAV (GNSS)."
Related abbreviations
More aviation abbreviations
- PIREP – Pilot report
- POH – Pilot's operating handbook
- PPL – Private pilot license
- QFE – Altimeter setting giving height above the airfield (Q code)
- QNH – Altimeter setting giving altitude above mean sea level (Q code)
- RA – Resolution advisory
- RNP – Required navigation performance
- RPM – Revenue passenger miles
- RVR – Runway visual range
- RVSM – Reduced vertical separation minimum
- SEL – Single-engine land
- SIC – Second in command