Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) Training Course

The Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) Training Course equips air navigation service provider professionals, procedure designers, airspace planners, civil aviation authority staff, and aviation operations professionals with the knowledge and practical understanding needed to understand, plan, implement, and operate performance-based navigation as a foundation of modern airspace and air navigation modernization. Performance-based navigation moves aircraft navigation from reliance on fixed ground-based navigation aids to area navigation based on defined performance requirements, enabling more efficient and flexible flight paths, improved access, reduced fuel burn and emissions, and increased airspace capacity. It is a core enabler within the global air navigation modernization framework and underpins modern route and terminal airspace design, approaches, and airspace redesign programs. The course covers performance-based navigation from concept to implementation. Participants learn the evolution from conventional navigation to area navigation and performance-based navigation, the performance-based navigation concept and its components, including navigation specifications, the navigation applications across en route, terminal, and approach phases, and the navigation aids and systems that support it, including global navigation satellite systems and onboard area navigation and required navigation performance capabilities. The program then addresses navigation specifications such as area navigation and required navigation performance designations and their requirements, functional requirements such as radius-to-fix paths and onboard performance monitoring and alerting, and the design of performance-based navigation routes, standard instrument departures, standard arrivals, and approach procedures including approaches with vertical guidance. Participants also examine the performance-based navigation implementation process, including airspace concept and requirements, navigation infrastructure assessment, fleet and operational approval considerations, safety assessment, validation and flight validation, publication, and airspace change, along with global navigation satellite system augmentation, interference and resilience considerations, and the links to airspace capacity, environment, and future navigation. The course is delivered through navigation specification analysis, route and procedure design exercises, implementation planning workshops, and case studies of performance-based navigation implementation. Participants leave with a performance-based navigation concept and specifications reference, a navigation specification selection guide, a route and procedure design checklist, a performance-based navigation implementation plan template, and a safety and validation checklist. This course provides planning and management-level knowledge and is not an instrument procedure design qualification or operational approval program.