While most pilots probably haven't heard of it, the Operational Evolution Plan (OEP) is the FAA's "playbook" for modernizing the National Airspace System (NAS) through the year 2010. The OEP is a "living" document, laying out details for updating airports, airspace, and instrument approaches.
Over the past 12 months, AOPA has advocated for general aviation's place in the plan. The association has asked FAA to include implementation of GPS and WAAS procedures in the OEP and address issues related to general aviation access to airspace and airports surrounding "hub" airports and improving reliever airport infrastructure.
Most recently, AOPA submitted comments on the OEP asking the FAA to commit to developing and charting GPS and WAAS instrument approaches for general aviation airports.
"Without a commitment for publishing approaches for a minimum of 500 runways per year (as was expected for GPS-based procedures), general aviation will lack any incentive to equip with GPS suitable for instrument flight rules operations," said AOPA Senior Vice President Andy Cebula. "AOPA has stated this repeatedly for over 10 years. Slow equipage rates will likely delay user transition to RNAV (or RNP)." (See " AOPA protects GA interests in FAA's new RNP navigation plan.")
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