Plain English Meaning

These are pre-set routes drawn on aeronautical charts that an aircraft flies using its own navigation system, instead of having to track from one ground radio beacon to the next. The high-altitude versions are called Q-routes; the low-altitude versions are called T-routes.

Full Definition

Fixed, charted area navigation routes that pilots can fly using onboard RNAV equipment without relying on traditional ground-based navigation aids. Published RNAV routes include Q-routes (high-altitude RNAV routes used in the jet route structure) and T-routes (low-altitude RNAV routes used in the Victor airway structure). They are depicted on and may be flown by aircraft with suitable RNAV equipment as by the .