PBN and Procedure Design | Training

Instructor-led Training

Our designers, instructors, training material, and software are world-class. Aeropath holds certifications from multiple jurisdictions and is a contributing member to the ICAO Instrument Flight Procedures Panel (IFPP). We have received ICAO recognition for PBN and conventional procedures, and our practices are aligned with the latest ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).

We offer in-person and virtual instructor-led training options from basic to advanced. We also offer the ability to customise the course content to meet your learning requirements, offering you a practical and cost-effective solution for your specific training needs.

M-1 | General Criteria and Conventional Procedures

The course is based on PANS-OPS ICAO Doc 8168 Volume II Construction of Visual and Instrument Flight Procedures; it describes the essential areas and obstacle clearance requirements for the achievement of safe, regular instrument flight operations.

Prerequisites: Geodesy for procedure designers; if you are not sure we have a free self-assessment test.

Duration: 4 weeks

Syllabus:

  • Introduction & General Design Criteria
  • ICAO Overview
  • Ground Based Navaids
  • Approach Classifications
  • Fixes
  • Turn Area Construction
  • NPA Introduction
  • NPA Final Segment
  • NPA Intermediate and Initial Segments
  • NPA Reversal and Racetrack Procedures
  • Missed Approach Segment
  • Conventional Holding Procedures
  • Circling Approach
  • Minimum Sector Altitude
  • Instrument Approach Charts
  • PA Introduction and ILS Principles
  • PA Basic ILS and Obstacle Assessment Surfaces (OAS)
  • PA Exercise
  • Collision Risk Model
  • Visual Segment Surface
  • Departures
  • Omnidirectional Departures
  • Straight and Turning Departures
  • En-route Procedures
  • Standard Arrival Procedures
  • Practical application
M-2 | Performance Based Navigation (PBN) Procedures & BARO-VNAV

This course explains the components required for the construction of RNAV instrument flight procedures based on the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and BARO-VNAV procedure design criteria.

Baro-VNAV approach procedures are classified as APV procedures — they utilise a DA/H and not an MDA/H, and neither a FAF nor a missed approach point (MAPt) is identified. They use obstacle assessment surfaces similar to those for ILS, but based on the specific lateral guidance system.

Prerequisites: Knowledge of General Criteria and Conventional Procedures.

Duration: 3 weeks

Syllabus:

  • PBN Introduction and RNAV Principles
  • RNAV — Arrivals
  • RNAV — Final Segment
  • RNAV — Intermediate and Initial Segments
  • RNAV — Missed Approach
  • Terminal Arrival Altitude
  • RNAV Departure within transition
  • RNAV Holding Pattern
  • Proposed changes to PANS-OPS criteria
  • APV (BARO-VNAV)
  • Practical application
M-3 | RNP-AR Navigation (Doc 9905) & BARO-VNAV

This course covers approaches with vertical guidance (APV) including the RNP-AR and a revisit of the Baro-VNAV procedure design criteria.

Required Navigation Performance Authorisation Required (RNP-AR) APCH operations are classified as approach procedures with vertical guidance (APVs). This type of operation requires a positive vertical navigation (VNAV) guidance system for the Final Approach Segment (FAS).

Prerequisites: Knowledge of General Criteria, Conventional Procedures and Performance Based Navigation.

Duration: 1 week

Syllabus:

  • RNP AR General Criteria
  • RNP AR — Arrivals
  • RNP AR — RNP Final Segment
  • RNP AR — Intermediate and Initial Segment
  • RNP AR — Missed Approach
  • RNP refers to both advanced and and authorisation required procedures
  • Practical application
M-4 | Helicopters (Point in Space) Procedures

A specialised course that covers the general criteria and area navigation (RNAV) approach procedure applicable to helicopters only.

It also covers the Point in Space approach and departure procedures consisting of an instrument segment followed by a visual segment or vice versa.

Prerequisites: Knowledge of General Criteria, Conventional Procedures and Performance Based Navigation.

Duration: 1 week

Syllabus:

  • Helicopter Criteria and Procedures
  • Point in Space Approaches
  • Point in Space Departures
  • HAS Diagram
  • Practical application
M-5 | PANS-OPS Recurrent Course

This course will cover new amendments to PANS-OPS and future developments, and assess the impacts and associated risks on existing flight procedures or the implementation of new ones.

Prerequisites: Procedure design experience.

Duration: 1 week

Syllabus:

  • PANS-OPS changes in the last 24 months
  • Future developments
  • Customer-specific requirements
  • PANS-OPS proposed changes
  • Forum discussion
M-6 | Obstacle Assessment and Management

This course provides airport operators or obstacle control personnel the necessary skills to evaluate aerodrome obstacles from a practical perspective.

It describes different methods to efficiently evaluate obstacles within the vicinity of the airport, including the straight segments of published flight procedures.

Prerequisites: Background in Annex 14 / PANS-OPS.

Duration: 1 week

Syllabus:

  • Fundamentals
  • Frame of Reference
  • Phases of Flight
  • Aircraft Performance
  • Aerodrome Infrastructure
  • ICAO Annex 14 OLS for Aerodromes
  • Obstacle Restriction and Removal
  • Obstacle Free Zone
  • State-Modified OLS
  • Understanding PANS-OPS Procedures
  • Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) facilities
  • Application of Shielding Principles
  • Protection of Visual Slope Indicator Systems
  • Marking and Lighting of Obstacles
  • Aeronautical Studies Overview
M-7 | PBN Implementation Planning Process

This course will cover the broad subjects and issues involved in PBN Implementation.

Prerequisites: Procedure design, air navigation service provider, regulatory or airline experience.

Duration: Varies per state

Syllabus:

PBN Concept of Operations

  • What is PBN
  • Advantages
  • Prioritisation
  • Definitions
  • Navigation Specification
  • PBN Stage Selection

PBN Consultation

  • Stakeholders
  • Local Issues
  • Flow Management
  • Communication
  • VFR Integration
  • Noise Contours
  • Scoping
  • Airline Perspective on PBN

PBN Design

  • Nav Spec and Separations
  • Procedure Development for PBN
  • SID/STAR Development
  • Point-Merge
  • Lateral Separations
  • Concept Design — Departure and Feeder Fix Selection
  • Performance Benchmarking
  • Scoping

PBN Implementation

  • Regulatory Issues
  • Training
  • PBN SID/STAR Concept
  • Lateral Separations
  • Follow Up
  • Airspace
  • Documentation
  • Key Lessons
M-8 | ARINC424

Prerequisites: Familiar with instrument flying.

Duration: 3 days

Syllabus:

  • History and Introduction ARINC 424
  • Data Chain
  • Path Terminators
  • ARINC 424 Format
  • Coding For Designers and AIM
  • Coding Limitations and Problems
  • Practical application