Area navigation capability in a miniature airborne GPS receiver

The area navigation (RNAV) capabilities of the Collins five-channel miniaturized airborne GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver (less than 3/8 ATR) are discussed. These capabilities include the computation of radial navigation parameters, standard air data retrieval functions, warnings with respect to preplanned flight events, and flight data storage and editing functions. Great circuit routes can be defined, deviation parameters can be computed, and station declinations can be stored (as magvar) with waypoints, allowing pilots to fly VOR/VORTAC radials. The vector approach allows the accuracy of the GPS navigation solution to be propagated into RNAV data. These functional and performance capabilities provide an approach to compliance with the Federal Radionavigation Plan