Annex H: PBN Capability Statements (Step 7b)

1. General

1.1 This annex provides guidance on the development of the PBN Capability Statements to be inserted into the FM and AOI, as required in Step 7b of the PBN Design Certification Process (paragraph 4.2.1.g.(2) of the advisory).

2. Airworthiness Requirements

2.1 The requirement for capability statements originates in the following regulatory provisions:

1. RCAF Flight Operations Manual (reference 3.2.2.l), Chapter 2, Paragraph 2.3.6.2, requirements for navigation equipment certification statements, stipulates:

‘Aircraft Equipment Certification. RNAV (GNSS) navigation must be operationally airworthy and certified by 1 Cdn Air Div HQ. The respective AFM, AFM supplement, AOI or FCOM must explicitly state that the equipment meets the specifications as detailed in […] this section in order to be approved for RNAV (GNSS) operations.’

2. AC 20-138D (reference 3.2.2.a). Paragraph 12-7, Equipment Capability and Installed Limitations, of Chapter 12, stipulates:

'Equipment Capability and Installed Limitations.  Airworthiness approval holders should include a comprehensive PBN statement of capabilities and qualification in the AFM(s)/RFM(s) describing the aircraft’s PBN capabilities and operations limitations as an easy reference for flight crews and authorities that grant operations approvals. Doing so can greatly ease the process for operators that need operations approvals and enhance flight crew awareness of the aircraft’s PBN capability.’

2.2 As described in Step 7b of the PBN Design Certification Process, the TAA and the OAA require that PBN Capability Statements be developed, approved and inserted into in the FM/AOI. The capability statements provide the aircrew with a concise summary of the aircraft’s approved PBN capabilities and limitations, and are meant to be used by them in the preparation of flight plans and ATC clearance requests. The PBN capability statements may refer to the system description and operating procedures contained in the FM/AOI.

2.3 Once the design assessment (Step 4) has been completed, the PBN Capability Statements should be drafted and made available to the finding authorities (FAs), to provide them with a summary of the proposed capabilities and limitations arising from the assessment. In their Technical Notes, the FAs will be required to make a recommendation to the TAA regarding the approval of the wording in the capability statements.

2.4 The PBN capability statements will be approved as part of the TAC and OAC approval process. Once the capability statement has been approved by the TAA and OAA, the Weapon System Management organization is responsible for inserting the statements into the FM/AOI.

2.5 The format of the capability statements should be consistent with the format and structure of the existing FM/AOI. Subsequent changes to the statements are subject to the Technical Airworthiness Data (TAWD) change approval process described in the TAM (regulatory reference 3.2.1.a).

3. PBN Capability Statement Example

3.1      Figure H-1 provides an example PBN capability statement to illustrate the type of information that could be included in the FM/AOI, following the approval of a design change: the addition of a RNP 1 capability.

Figure H-1 Example of a PBN Capability Statement

Approved Technical Airworthiness Data

PBN Capability Statement

Approved Capability: RNP 1

This Block 2 FMS installation complies with the TAA requirements for RNP 1 (as derived from FAA AC 20‑138D, Change 2) and is eligible for operational approval consistent with ICAO Performance Based Navigation (PBN) Manual RNP 1, including RF legs, in the following minimum operating configurations:

• Single FMS in GPS, DME/DME or IRS (time limited) Navigation Mode
• Coupled to AP and/or FD
• VOR/DME mode deselected (to prevent automatic switching to this mode upon loss of GPS).
• Time limit for FMS in IRS Navigation Mode (following a GPS or DME/DME mode failure) is 30 minutes after the FMS enters the IRS Navigation Mode. 

3.2 As illustrated in Figure H-1, the PBN capability statement includes the following information:

1. the ICAO navigation specification (RNP 1);
2. the equipment providing the navigation capability (Flight Management System (FMS) and Block 2 avionics);
3. the source document for the criteria used to assess the aircraft (FAA AC 20‑138D, Change 2);
4. the operating configuration (at least one coupled FMS, and the VOR/DME Navigation Mode deselected); and
5. the exact text that is approved by the TAA (inside the box).

3.3 The approved PBN capability statements should speak only to the performance of the equipment, the supporting software and navigation databases. The operational requirements of the ICAO PBN Manual should not be included in the portion of the FM that is approved by the TAA.

3.4 It is strongly recommended that the ICAO flight plan code for Blocks 10 (Equipment and Capabilities) and 18 (Other Information) may be included in a table.  For example, “RNP APCH – Block 10 may include “B” for LPV (APV with SBAS)”, and “G” for GNSS when Block 18 includes NAV/SBAS, and “R” for PBN when Block 18 includes PBN/A1C2D2L1O2S1S2.  For guidance, refer to ICAO Doc 4444, Procedures for Air Navigation Services, Air Traffic Management, Appendix 2.

4. AC 20-138D Capability Statement Examples

4.1 Examples of PBN capability statements are also provided in AC 20-138D, Appendix 5, page A5-9, A5-2 (reference 3.2.2.a).

4.2 Samples of the ‘Statement of Navigation Capability’ provided below are from the CC150 Flight Manual (FM) Supplement. This FM Supplement was approved by Transport Canada as part of a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) release for a design change to the CC150 (A310 model). This design change involved the installation of the CMC 9000 Flight Management System, the Triple Honeywell LaserRef IV Inertial Reference System, and the FANS-1/A+ System. This FM Supplement includes the following chapters and extracts:

1. CC150 Sample – Chapter 1 – Statements of Navigation Capability

CHAPTER 1 GENERAL (contd.)

STATEMENTS OF NAVIGATION CAPABILITY (contd.)

RNP 1

This FMS installation has been found to comply with the requirements of AC 20 138B and is eligible for operational improvements consistent with ICAO Performance Based Navigation (PBN) Manual RNP 1, including RF legs under the following minumum operating configuration:

Single FMS in GPS, DME/DME or IRS (time limited as below) Navigation Mode Coupled to AP and/or FD.

VOR/DME mode deselected.

FMS in IRS Navigation Mode following a GPS or DME/DME mode failure time limit

0.5 hours maximum after FMS is placed in inertial navigation mode.

2. CC150 Sample – Chapter 2 – Limitations

CHAPTER 2 – LIMITATIONS (contd.)

IFR APPROACH LIMITATIONS

1. ILS, LOC, LOC-BC, LDA, SDF, MLS and RNP AR approaches using the FMS/GNSS are prohibited.
2. FMS based instrument approaches must be conducted in the FMS Approach mode with the remote FMS APP annunciator LIT.
3. All instrument approaches using the GPS must be coupled to the flight director and autopilot or hand-flown using FD guidance
4. Autopilot must not be coupled to PROFILE mode below 265 feet AGL
5. GPS can only be used for approach guidance when navigation information is referenced to the WGS-84 reference system, and where the Aeronautical Publication Information (including electronic data and aeronautical charts) conform to WGS-84 or equivalent.