This article first appeared in the Autumn Edition of FAA SatNav News (Vol 67)
Did you know when looking for WAAS LPV approach plates for runways ends, they won’t be listed as WAAS LPV – or at least not in plain sight like you would see on an ILS approach plate. For example, Runway 6 at Nantucket Memorial (ACK) has both an ILS and an LPV. The approach plate below on the left outlines the ILS or Localizer approach with the title above clearly stating it is an approach plate for the ILS or Localizer approach. The approach plate on the right is for the same runway with LPV, LNAV/VNAV, and LNAV lines of minima. It is titled as an RNAV (GPS) approach.
RNAV stands for “Area Navigation”. The older GPS based non-precision approach format is being phased out with a newer format prefaced by the acronym RNAV. An example would be the change from “GPS RWY 18” to “RNAV (GPS) RWY 18”. All GPS based approaches moving forward are RNAV; to include LPV, LNAV/VNAV, LNAV, LP and stand-alone GPS approaches.
Just remember, when looking for an LPV line of minima at your runway end, it will be titled RNAV (GPS) RWY XX.
