China Eastern uses RNP for test flight

China Eastern Airlines successfully held its test flight using RNP technology from Kunming, Yunnan to Nyingchi, Tibet. The air route will be opened soon. The Tibet Nyingchi Airport is known as one of the world’s most difficult airports as it is surrounded by mountains. It is located in the valley area of Yarlung Zangbo River, on the Qingzang plateau. Standard altitude of Nyingchi Airport is 2,954 meters. Aircraft taking off and landing can only fly on the narrow and curved valley. During the year, only 100 days can be used for flights because of difficult weather. Because of its special terrain and changeable weather, it is the airport with the most complicated clearance condition, weather condition, flight situation and navigation station layout in the world. The Kunming-Nyingchi air route will adopt RNP technology, allowing pilots to fly complex approach and departure flight profiles without using ground-based navigation aids. RNP flight procedures allow aircraft to land safely while RNP navigation operation can be used in airports with complex terrain and variable weather. Nyingchi Airport is the third civil airport of Tibet. It was formally opened in October 2006. As of this March this year, the airport has handled more than 16,000 passengers.