最近,有些机场的导航台不工作。大家都在讨论是否可以飞的时候。经人介绍,发现FAA曾经发现一个AC,标题是《Use of Suitable Area Navigation (RNAV) Systems on Conventional Routes and Procedures》。主要的目的是:
(1)Use of a suitable RNAV system as a Substitute Means of Navigation when a very high frequency (VHF) Omni-directional Range (VOR), Distance Measuring Equipment (DME), Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN), VOR/TACAN (VORTAC), VOR/DME, non-directional radio beacon (NDB), or compass locator facility including Locator Outer Marker (LOM) and Locator Middle Marker (LMM) is out-of-service, i.e., the Navigation Aid (NAVAID) information is not available; an aircraft is not equipped with an automatic direction finder (ADF) or DME; or the installed ADF or DME on an aircraft is not operational. For example, if equipped with a suitable RNAV system, a pilot may hold over an out-of-service NDB.
(2)Use of a suitable RNAV system as an Alternate Means of Navigation when a VOR, DME, VORTAC, VOR/DME, TACAN, NDB, or compass locator facility including LOM and LMM is operational, and the respective aircraft is equipped with operational navigation equipment that is compatible with conventional NAVAIDs. For example, if equipped with a suitable RNAV system, a pilot may fly a procedure or route based on operational VOR using that RNAV system without monitoring the VOR.
简单说来就是有了RNAV设备,基本上可以无视地面导航的情况了。为此,我还在丹佛的时候,找了Jeppesen教员核实了一下此咨询通告的目的,我怕我英文理解有偏差。Joe很直接地说,是啊,有了GPS就是随便飞,反正导航台在飞机数据库里就是个坐标。
对他的说法,我还是有些怀疑,我觉得他有点过分乐观了。不过,至少此文的目的和我理解的没错。