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2 Answers

Are RNAV (Q- and T-) Routes AIRWAYS?

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Airspace, Instrument Rating

They are depicted on IFR charts like Victor or Jet airways. So, are they airways? (Do they have a 8NM width, for example.)

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2 Answers



  1. John D Collins on Apr 24, 2015

    They are ATC routes that require a suitable RNAV system such as an IFR GPS, so they are more flexible as to how they are constructed as they do not depend on ground based navigation systems such VOR and DME. They have the same width as a Victor airway or Jet route.

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  2. Mark Kolber on Apr 25, 2015

    If one wants to be hyper-technical, they are not, but then neither are jet routes since,as indicated by AIM 5-3-4, low altitude VOR and L/MF routes are “airways” while the high altitude and RNAV routes not identified that way. IOW (and L/MF routes aside), when you are on a Victor Airway, you are on a “federal airway.” When you are on a high altitude jet route or RNAV route, you are on a “route” that is not specifically classed as a “federal airway.”

    But that’s being far more technical than is reasonable. Good for a trick question but little else.

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