Use of Required Navigation Performance – Authorisation Required (RNP-AR) approaches to Brisbane Airport

Several community members have recently asked about non-jet aircraft using the shorter, curved approaches (RNP-ARs) to the airport rather than the long, straight-in approach (ILS). First up, a reminder of how these different approaches work:

  • an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach can be conducted by all aircraft and is the most common arrival procedure at Brisbane Airport. The ILS flight path is effectively an extension of the runway centreline and requires a straight-in final approach
  • a Required Navigation PerformanceAuthorisation Required (RNP-AR) approach allows a continuous curved path prior to a shorter final approach section aligned with the runway. Using an RNP-AR, aircraft can line up with the runway much closer to the airport.

RNP-AR flight paths are available for each runway at Brisbane Airport. They can be flown by any aircraft equipped with the required technology and where the airline/operator has been authorised by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to conduct RNP-AR operations.

More advanced aircraft, usually jets, are likely to be equipped to use an RNP-AR. Airlines may choose to fit the technology to other aircraft types.

QantasLink has equipped their Dash 8 (non-jet aircraft) to use RNP-AR approaches and has been authorised by CASA to do so. With this authorisation, QantasLink has started using the existing RNP-AR flight paths into Brisbane Airport. There were approximately 60 flights on these paths by QantasLink in October 2024 (including arrivals over Moreton Bay).

What does this have to do with the Noise Action Plan for Brisbane?

In August 2024, Airservices Australia consulted the community on the proposal that certified non-jets could use the RNP-AR approach when arriving via WOODY and MORBI waypoints. If progressed, that proposal would require design of new flight paths to connect into the RNP-AR approach and, as a result, is subject to community engagement. Appropriate use of current RNP-AR approaches from other waypoints is not subject to community engagement because changes to flight paths are not required.

Arrival paths to Brisbane Airport

Overland arrival paths to Brisbane Airport are used when the wind is from the north. You can see these on our interactive maps. Here are the shortcuts to the daytime flight paths and the night-time flight paths.

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