Malév Hungarian Airlines has become the first Boeing 737-700 operator to start using navigation performance scales (NPS) - an enhanced flightdeck display that uses vertical and horizontal indicators to provide precise position awareness on the primary flight displays (PFD).
NPS is one of three new flightdeck technologies being introduced by Boeing on the 737 and, ultimately, on similar flightdecks such as the 717 and 777. Other features include a vertical situation display that works with the terrain awareness system to show a profile view of the projected flightpath and associated terrain; and Integrated Approach Navigation. This enhancement to the flight-management computer (FMC) provides instrument landing system-like procedures for FMC approaches, simplifying pilot procedures and "potentially reducing the number of approach procedures pilots have to learn in training", says Boeing.
The NPS improved guidance cues pave the way for more efficient approaches to congested airports such as Chicago Midway, New York Newark and San Francisco in the USA as the deviation scales and navigation guidance bars on the PFD allow crews to stick within RNP (required navigation performance) limits. These converge as the "funnel" of the approach path narrows during descent.
Lateral and vertical navigation deviation pointers on the horizontal and vertical axis of the PFD are provided in the upgrade to indicate RNP compliance and can be provided for both the navigation display format or the electronic flight instrument/map display.
Source: Flight International
