Harvesting the benefits of optimised PBN-based IFP procedures

MOLDATSA, the ANSP of the Republic of Moldova, has accepted the challenge proposed by the EUROCONTROL NAV PBN Implementation Support Team to start from a clean sheet for their PBN procedures of the main Moldavian International Airport Chișinău (LUKK/RMO).

After an initial exchange between MOLDATSA’s Head of ATM Mr. Serghei GHEORGHIȚA and EUROCONTROL NAV PBN Implementation Support Team member Bert KLINKERS, on a potential collaboration, the project received its endorsement by both organisations its Director Generals. 

Thinking outside of the PANS-OPS box without compromising safety and reducing the environmental footprint and the number of existing procedures were fundamental elements of the storyline during the first phase of this partnership.

The project core team was composed of MOLDATSA’s senior IFP designer Mr. Dorin GADIMBA and EUROCONTROL’s NAV PBN Implementation Support Team members David DE SMEDT and Bert KLINKERS.  Various working meetings were held to come up with a full set of newly designed SIDs, STARs and IAPs (Instrument Flight Procedures) pushing the boundaries of the PBN concept.  Numerous review iterations and workshops with the support of the Moldavian ATCOs Maxim MILER, Serghei HATKEVICI and Veaceslav SPAC – Head of ACC made sure operational concerns and methods were accounted for in the new design.

The first phase has been successfully concluded and starting as from the first quarter of 2025, a selection of newly designed IFP procedures will be put to a series of flight evaluation and validation scenarios in fully certified flight simulators.  This second phase will provide the necessary data and proof to compile the full dossier for submittal to the Moldavian CAA.  The final goal, the official publication of these new PBN procedures in the AIP, is targeted for Q1 / 2026.

If your organisation is interested in embarking on this ‘boundaries-challenging’ PBN collaboration, and explore its benefits, please contact the NAV PBN Implementation Support Team via the following mail address nav.user.support@eurocontrol.int.

The animation MOLDATSA_PBN_Enhancement_2025-02-20.mp4  shows a 3D representation of the newly designed SIDs (blue lines) and STARs (green lines) for RWY08 at Chișinău airport.  Note the use of the Radius-to-Fix advanced PBN functionality for two of the RWY08 SIDs.  This functionality enables departures to the north to pass in between a restricted area (red volume) and a temporary reserved area (green volume).