VNAV — Vertical Navigation — Aviation Definition

Words for: The National Airspace System & IFR Charts

← Back to The National Airspace System & IFR Charts

NAS — National Airspace System
aeronautical charts
airspace classification
AIM — Aeronautical Information Manual
MSL — mean sea level
Special Use Airspace
FL — flight level
NM — nautical miles
IFR — Instrument Flight Rules
ATC — Air Traffic Control
passenger enplanements
AGL — above ground level
AeroNav Products
FL 600
ATC Clearance
Special VFR
VFR — Visual Flight Rules
statute miles
VFR aircraft separation
VFR Visibility Minimum
VFR Minimum Distance from Clouds
IFR Aircraft
Radar
instrument approaches
nontowered airport
Aeronautical Navigation Products (AeroNav Products)
NOTAM — Notice to Airmen
Controlled Airspace
Federal Airways System
Uncontrolled Airspace
Federal airway
Victor airway
joint-use restricted airspace
VOR — VHF omnidirectional range
low-altitude airway structure
MOAs — military operations areas
collision avoidance
MTRs — Military Training Routes
IR
VR
TFRs — Temporary Flight Restrictions
NAVAID — Navigational Aid
RNAV — Area Navigation
confluence of airways
latitude/longitude coordinates
degree-distance fixes
A/FD — Airport/Facility Directory
FL 450
FL 290
conterminous United States
En Route Charts
Fix
Terminal Area
IFR en route chart
part-time airspace classifications
airport information
Charted IFR Altitudes
ICAO identifiers
ATIS — Automatic Terminal Information Service
obstacle clearance
MEA GAP
DME — Distance Measuring Equipment
MEA — minimum en route altitude
Types of NAVAIDs
NDB — Nondirectional Beacon
TACAN — Tactical Air Navigation
VOR/DME
VHF/UHF
LF/MF
Compass Locator
Identifying Intersections
VORs — very high frequency omnidirectional ranges
NO SVFR
isogonic
GPS/WAAS MEA
VORTAC
FSS — Flight Service Station
ILS — Instrument Landing System
AWOS — Automated Weather Observing System
HIWAS — Hazardous Inflight Weather Advisory Service
NAD 83 — North American Datum of 1983
WGS 84 — World Geodetic System 1984
Localizer
off-route VORs
collocated
feathered arrowhead symbol
ARTCC — Air Route Traffic Control Center
serrations
TWEB — Transcribed Weather Broadcast
Other Route Information
moving map
VOR changeover points
COP — changeover point
multifunction displays
flight deck
SA — Situational Awareness
COPs — VOR changeover points
GPS — Global Positioning System
ARTCC remote sites
SOPs — standard operating procedures
Terminal Procedures Publication
IMC — Instrument Meteorological Conditions
VMC — Visual Meteorological Conditions
DP — departure procedure
STAR — standard terminal arrival route
climb gradient
Flight Plan
DME Fix
FLYOVER POINT
IAP — Instrument Approach Procedure
centerline
Instrument Approach Procedure chart
margin identification
amendment status
Landing Minimums
APP CRS — approach course
Apt Elev — airport elevation
RNP — Required Navigation Performance
DME/DME RNP
GND CON — ground control
CLNC DEL — clearance delivery
UNICOM
FAF — Final Approach FIX
CTAF — Common Traffic Advisory Frequency
ASR — Airport Surveillance Radar
VOR-A
LDA-B
VOR or GPS RWY 15
ILS Z RWY 28
SILVER ILS RWY 28
LOC/DME
nonstandard IFR takeoff minimums
Alternate Minimums
NDB/DME
concentric dashed circles
Altimeter Setting
concentric rings
Visual Flightpath
ADF — Automatic Direction Finder
MSA circle
omnidirectional facility
missed approach waypoint
heavy-lined NAVAID box
GS — glideslope
Maltese cross
MDA — Minimum Descent Altitude
DH — Decision Height
Precision Approach
Nonprecision Approach
Maltese cross symbol
radar vectored
stalling speed
landing configuration
RVR — Runway Visual Range
Transmissometer
slant visual range
COPTER MINIMA
Maneuvering Table
Airport Sketch /Airport Diagram
runway incursion
taxiways
MALSR — Medium Intensity Approach Lighting System with Runway Alignment Indicator Lights
MAP — Missed Approach Point
TAA — Terminal Arrival Area
GPS/RNAV
NoPT — No Procedure Turn
teardrop procedure
teardrop procedure turn
barbed arrow
KIAS — knots indicated airspeed
NoPT
holding airspeed limitations
inbound course
Final Approach Course
procedure turn barbed arrow
outbound course
VNAV — Vertical Navigation
Inoperative Components Table
ALS — approach lighting system
VASI — Visual Approach Slope Indicator
REIL — Runway End Identifier Lights
ALSF-1
ALSF-2
SALS/SALSF
MALSF
ODALS — Omnidirectional Approach Lighting System
TDZ/CL — Touchdown Zone/Centerline Lighting
LPV — Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance
RNAV Instrument Approach Charts
required navigational performance (RNP)
WAAS — Wide Area Augmentation System
LNAV/VNAV
LP — localizer performance
Glidepath
LAAS — Local Area Augmentation System
runway threshold waypoint
HUD — head-up display
LDA — localizer-type directional aid
SDF/DME
LDA/DME
LP lines of minima
AP — autopilot

202 words in this area · Next word: Inoperative Components Table →

Plain English Meaning

VNAV is the part of the navigation system that handles climbing and descending. Just as the lateral side of the system tells the aircraft where to go left and right, VNAV tells it how to climb or descend along a planned vertical path between two points.

Full Definition

A function of area navigation (RNAV) equipment that calculates, displays, and may guide the aircraft along a vertical flight profile, typically a defined descent path between two altitudes at specified points along a route or instrument approach.

Context Anchor

Seen in aircraft navigation systems, flight management systems, instrument procedures, descent planning, and some operations.

VNAV — Vertical Navigation

Plain English Meaning

Full Definition

Context Anchor

Derivation

Why Pilots Care

Intuition Check

Example Sentence 1

Example Sentence 2