An aircraft must be equipped with a number of modern systems to conduct RNP operations. The FAA estimates that 30% of the U.S. fleet is RNP-capable. Estimates of other countries show a wide variance both above and below that number. Regions enjoying strong economic growth are often operating very young, very RNP capable fleets. Eventually, as older aircraft are retired and replaced by newer models, 100% of the world's commercial jet aircraft will be RNP capable. Airbus and Boeing have indicated that the standard equipment on new Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s will give them RNP 0.1 capability. Virtually all Boeing 737NG aircraft (737-600/700/800/900) come from the factory with the equipment required for RNP. The Airbus A320 family of aircraft (A318, A319, A320, A321) also have RNP capability. The European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) issued a specific certification of this January 2007. Older deliveries of these aircraft may require adding GPS receivers and upgrading other avionics and displays. Boeing 777 aircraft with AIMS 2 (Airplane Information Management System 2nd generation) are RNP capable. AIMS 2 became standard equipment on the 777 beginning with deliveries in 1999. Boeing 757/767 aircraft delivered after 1996 with Honeywell Pegasus flight management systems and integrated GPS have RNP capability with appropriate software enabled. Operators have upgraded avionics on Boeing 737-300/400 aircraft to make them RNP capable. Horizon Airlines has put RNP into revenue service using the Bombardier Q400 aircraft. Modern regional and business jets typically have most of the necessary equipment to fly RNP and only lack official certification of their RNP capabilities and regulatory compliance. The Embraer EMB-170/175/190/195 family as well as later model Gulfstreams and Citations are examples. |