Definition
An FAA Advisory Circular that provides the airworthiness, training, and operational approval criteria operators and aircraft must meet to fly Required Navigation Performance Authorization Required (RNP AR) instrument approach procedures. It defines the performance standards, equipment requirements, and crew qualifications needed before an operator can be authorized to conduct these high-precision approaches.
Plain English
It's the FAA rulebook that says what an aircraft, crew, and operator must have and do before they're allowed to fly the most demanding RNP approaches.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument procedure training when studying RNP AR approaches and the approval requirements behind them.
Derivation
An Advisory Circular (AC) is the FAA's standard format for issuing non-regulatory guidance. The number 90-101 places it in the 90-series, which covers general operating and flight rules guidance.
Why Pilots Care
It details the specific equipment, training, and procedural requirements for safely flying RNP AR approaches to lower minima.
Intuition Check
AC 90-101 is not an aircraft system, an electrical term, or air conditioning. Here, AC means FAA Advisory Circular, and the number identifies a specific FAA guidance document.
Example Sentence 1
Before the airline could begin flying the new RNP AR approach into the mountain airport, it had to demonstrate compliance with AC 90-101.
Example Sentence 2
Pilots must meet the standards described in AC 90-101 to conduct the approach to the published minima.