SAVANNAH, Georgia, November 16, 2015 — Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. recently received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its Gulfstream G650 and G650ER aircraft to fly Required Navigation Performance with Authorization Required (RNP AR) instrument approach procedures.

The approval means G650 and G650ER aircraft equipped with PlaneView II and the Aircraft Service Change 901 software upgrade are capable of flying an RNP AR approach to a minimum RNP value of 0.1 nautical miles, including the missed approach segment. Operators interested in flying such approaches must obtain the appropriate operational approval before doing so.

RNP AR procedures use global positioning and inertial navigation reference systems to fly predetermined paths that have been loaded onto the aircraft’s flight management computer. The paths, which are navigated using the Flight Guidance Control System, allow pilots to fly safer, more direct and lower minimum approaches at airports with restricted navigation routing.

“RNP AR procedures provide immense operational benefits,” said Dan Nale, senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test, Gulfstream. “It gives our operators better access to high-traffic areas and airports with terrain challenges. It also saves them time and reduces fuel consumption.”