IndiGo Introduces RNP AR Approach For Kathmandu Flights; Here’s How It Works

New Delhi: IndiGo on Wednesday said it has introduced a flight procedure in an effort to enable pilots to navigate the complex terrain surrounding Kathmandu valley with more precision. Aviation regulator DGCA validated the IndiGo flight operated with A320 plane that utilised the Required Navigation Performance with Authorisation Required (RNP AR) approach. “RNP AR technology is specifically engineered for airports situated in geographically tough and high-altitude regions, equivalent to Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM).

“With the airport surrounded by the Himalayas, landing in Kathmandu has traditionally been a challenge for pilots, specifically at some stage in adverse weather conditions,” IndiGo said in a release.

In line with the carrier, the implementation of the RNP AR system will enable aircraft to stick with predetermined flight paths with exceptional accuracy, effectively mitigating the dangers posed by the mountainous landscape.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the RNP AR approach offers a few advantages, including enhanced safety through greater precision accuracy and a more stabilised approach. It reduces operational inefficiencies, equivalent to the need for a couple of step-downs in non-precision approaches, and lowers the landing minima, the regulator added.

Also, the approach will assist in having lower fuel burn, reduced carbon footprint as well as financial savings through minimised crew and flight time losses. For RNP AR approaches, pilots undergo specialised simulator training and the aircraft be properly equipped and able to executing this advanced approach. “An all females inspectors team from DGCA and Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal were on board to oversee the validation flight,” DGCA said in a separate release.