Definition
An ATS (Air Traffic Service) route established for aircraft equipped with area navigation (RNAV) systems, allowing flight on any desired path within the coverage of station-referenced navigation aids, within the limits of self-contained system capability, or a combination of these. RNAV routes are not tied to flying directly between ground-based navigation stations.
Plain English
A published flight route designed for aircraft that can navigate point-to-point using onboard equipment, instead of being forced to fly from one ground station to the next.
Context Anchor
You may see RNAV routes on instrument charts, in air traffic clearances, or when building a route in approved navigation equipment.
Derivation
RNAV stands for 'area navigation.' The term reflects the idea that the aircraft can navigate within an area defined by navigation signals, rather than being tied to a straight line between two ground stations.
Why Pilots Care
RNAV routes permit more direct paths, lower fuel use, and greater flexibility than traditional airways.
Intuition Check
Do not read RNAV route as just any route flown with modern equipment. It means a route designed to be flown by area navigation, using defined points rather than simply tracking directly to or from ground stations.
Example Sentence 1
The crew filed Q-145, an RNAV route, to take advantage of a more direct path across the high-altitude airspace.
Example Sentence 2
After loading the RNAV route into the flight management computer, the pilot verified each waypoint on the moving map.