JetBlue Airways (New York) today (June 20) became the first Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-certified carrier in the United States to utilize the new satellite-based Special (Non-Public) Required Navigation Performance Authorization Required (RNP AR) approaches to Runways 13L and 13R at its home base at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport with its fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft.  These unique Special Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) procedures are designed to utilize a constant vertical descent in conjunction with a precise curved flight path to the runways, resulting in the following efficiencies:

• Stabilized approach path;
• Shorter flight times for customers;
• Reduced noise levels and greenhouse-gas emissions and,
• Increased fuel savings by as much as 120 pounds, or 18 gallons, per flight.

The RNP AR approach procedure will allow JetBlue to utilize a decision altitude while in a slight turn to the runway, the first airline in the United States to harness this special capability. This allows for lower landing weather minimums, increasing runway utilization at JFK. These procedures will be a key component in making JFK operate independent of the other NY-area airports and reduce delays at JFK, LaGuardia (LGA), Newark Liberty International (EWR) and Teterboro (TEB) airports in certain poor weather conditions.

JetBlue began designing and testing the JFK special instrument procedures in 2004 in partnership with the FAA and MITRE Corporation. The airline’s entire cadre of more than 2,300 pilots have been trained and certified at JetBlue’s flight simulator training facility in Orlando to fly RNP AR procedures across the United States.

In addition to these milestones, in 2008 JetBlue became the first and remains the only Airbus A320 operator in the country to receive FAA authorization for RNP AR approaches, followed by RNP AR certification for its entire fleet of Embraer ERJ 190 aircraft in 2010.  JetBlue maintains all of its fleet types certified for RNP AR. The airline plans to extend the unique capability at JFK to its Embraer ERJ 190 fleet in the near future.

To further advance its active role in upgrading the nation’s air traffic control system, in 2011 JetBlue also announced a partnership with the FAA to provide data and conduct real-time operational evaluations for the organization’s Next-Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) airspace modernization program.  Through FAA-funding, the airline will equip up to 35 of its A320 planes with Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) Out avionics that will provide air traffic controllers with precise positioning of the aircraft using GPS satellite signals, enabling the aircraft to fly more direct routes off the East Coast.  This capability, when combined with the new FAA En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) System, will begin field trials next summer. JetBlue is currently awaiting final aircraft certification.

Copyright Photo: Jay Selman.

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