31 August, 2018: Rockwell Collins is helping multiple US Navy and US Marine Corps aircraft obtain safety-critical Required Navigation Performance Area Navigation (RNP-RNAV) capabilities through a contract issued by the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Air Combat Electronics programme office (PMA-209).
Under the agreement, Rockwell Collins will supply its Mission Flight Management Software (MFMS-1000) and Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance (LPV) Calculator (LPVC-1000) applications, which will allow these aircraft to meet RNP-RNAV requirements and obtain global airspace access and carry out GPS approach procedures. These procedures boost airspace utilisation and reduce congestion, delays and fuel burn while enhancing safety by providing more precise aircraft navigation.
“Pilots will now be able to comply with civil flight procedures while operating in the continental US, Europe and other areas of the world where adherence to the latest Communication, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management rules are required,” said Heather Robertson, senior director for Rockwell Collins. “The MFMS-1000 software is also certified conformant to the FACE Technical Standard, resulting in a hardware-agnostic solution portable to any avionics system. This will be the first time military aircraft will have a low risk means to implement RNP-RNAV compliance without the need for an expensive and time-consuming avionics system upgrade.”