Definition
A method of navigation that allows an aircraft to fly any desired flight path within the coverage of ground- or space-based navigation aids, within the limits of the aircraft's onboard equipment, or a combination of both. Unlike traditional navigation, which requires flying directly from one ground-based station to the next, RNAV lets the pilot define waypoints anywhere in space and fly point-to-point between them.
Plain English
A way of navigating that lets you fly directly from any point to any other point, instead of being forced to fly from one ground beacon to the next.
Context Anchor
Seen in route planning, instrument procedures, GPS-based navigation, and clearances that assign RNAV routes or RNAV approaches.
Derivation
"Area" navigation is named in contrast to older "point-to-point" navigation that tied aircraft to fixed ground stations. The word "area" highlights that the pilot can now navigate freely throughout an area of airspace, not just along the lines connecting ground beacons.
Why Pilots Care
Allows shorter, more fuel-efficient routes and access to airports without traditional ground-based navigation aids.
Intuition Check
Do not read “area” as a vague region of sky. In RNAV, it means the aircraft can navigate through an area along planned points instead of being tied to one ground station after another.
Example Sentence 1
Cleared direct to the destination, the pilot used RNAV to fly straight to the airport instead of routing via each VOR along the airway.
Example Sentence 2
During the approach briefing, the crew reviewed the RNAV procedure for the runway.