Definition
A method of navigation in which the aircraft determines its position using signals from Global Positioning System satellites and uses that position to fly along any chosen course between defined waypoints, rather than being restricted to flying directly to or from ground-based navigation stations. On instrument approach charts, the label GPS/RNAV indicates that the procedure is designed to be flown using GPS as the source of position information for area navigation.
Plain English
It means the aircraft uses GPS to know where it is, and then flies a path between waypoints in space — not a path tied to a ground radio station. When you see GPS/RNAV on a chart, it tells you the procedure is meant to be flown that way.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying, especially on RNAV approach charts and in Terminal Arrival Area procedures.
Derivation
GPS comes from Global Positioning System, the U.S. satellite navigation network. RNAV is short for Area Navigation — 'area' because the aircraft can navigate through any area along chosen waypoints, not just along straight lines between ground stations. Together, GPS/RNAV simply names the source of the position data (GPS) and the type of navigation it enables (RNAV).
Why Pilots Care
It enables more direct and efficient arrivals with vertical guidance while reducing reliance on older ground equipment.
Intuition Check
Do not read the slash as meaning two unrelated choices. In this context, GPS/RNAV usually means RNAV navigation using GPS as the position source.
Example Sentence 1
The arrival chart showed GPS/RNAV waypoints feeding into the Terminal Arrival Area, so the crew loaded the procedure into the flight management system before descent.
Example Sentence 2
GPS/RNAV routing allowed the aircraft to descend continuously from the initial approach fix without vectoring.