Evaluation of the Potential Environmental Benefits of RNAV/RNP Arrival Procedures

Improving aircraft operational procedures is one strategy that can be used to mitigate aviation’s environmental impacts in relatively short time-frames with existing aircraft types. This study quantifies the potential environmental benefits achievable with operational changes in Area Navigation (RNAV) and Required Navigation Performance (RNP) departure and approach procedures using a case study of approaches at SEATAC. Results indicate that properly designed RNAV/RNP procedures can yield fuel and emissions savings during approach of up to approximately 40 percent. However, the maximum benefits are only realized when procedures are optimized to improve environmental and operational performance. “Overlay” RNAV procedures, which are merely higher precision versions of existing non-RNAV procedures, often do not yield much fuel benefit or deliver any meaningful noise impact reduction.