Plain English Meaning
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.
Full 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.
Context Anchor
You may see RNAV routes on instrument charts, in , or when building a route in .