For over a decade, Performance has been pioneering advanced navigation and mapping data solutions for commercial aviation through our Precision Navigation & Mapping™ product suite. With the industry rapidly evolving, Performance remains committed to delivering innovative solutions that provide pilots and operators with the most intelligent and dynamic flight data available.
Recently, our Precision Navigation & Mapping™ Product Manager, Michael Karalewich, joined a specialized technical committee, Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA)’s SC-227. The committee is responsible for developing navigation standards for avionics equipment, airspace management, and navigation system users along with the requirements for displaying information on electronic maps. In this interview, Karalewich shares his insights on the upcoming changes in navigation technology, including how dynamic, data-driven charts will revolutionize the way flights are planned and executed — and what this means for the aviation industry.
Performance’s Precision Navigation & Mapping™
Data-Driven Charts (DDC) vs. Traditional Navigation Charts
Navigating the skies has traditionally required pilots to manage an overwhelming volume of data, including hundreds—sometimes thousands—of Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) before every flight. This manual process not only increases workload but also heightens the risk of missing critical updates.
Data-driven charts solve this problem by consolidating navigation data into a single, intuitive, and continuously updated source, reducing manual effort and minimizing errors. These charts are customized to the specific flight by filtering and adjusting data based on the aircraft’s capabilities, flight path, and real-time conditions (e.g. weather, NOTAMs and more).
This is particularly critical for Required Navigation Performance (RNP) and Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) procedures, where precise and adaptable charts improve situational awareness and decision-making, ensuring pilots see only the most relevant data for their specific flight. It is expected that DDCs will become widely adopted in the near future.
Navigation Databases: Integrating Dynamic Digital Airports, Vertiports, Terrain, Imagery, and Obstacles
Performance’s Precision Navigation & Mapping™
One of the most significant advancements in aviation navigation is the integration of real-time digital representations of airports, vertiports, terrain, obstacles, and imagery into the navigation database. From a pilot’s perspective, this integration provides a digital twin of the aerodrome—an accurate, up-to-date representation of the airport or vertiport and its surroundings, including real-time data from controllers. This digital model enhances situational awareness, ensuring that pilots are well-informed about potential obstacles, airspace limitations, and weather conditions during every phase of the flight.
For instance, a forward cockpit display can offer a comprehensive, real-time view of the airfield and surrounding terrain, which, when combined with data from air traffic controllers, allows pilots to maintain a clear understanding of their environment and operational expectations. This integration not only improves safety but also enhances operational efficiency by presenting pilots with all relevant information in a cohesive, easy-to-understand format. DDCs will significantly enhance the flight experience for all operators.
The Impact of Evolving Standards on Pilots, Airspace Managers, and Navigation System Developers
As aviation technology advances, pilots will soon have access to more accurate, real-time data tailored to their specific aircraft and flight path with the help of DDCs.
Karalewich explains:
“Pilots will have access to more accurate and timely data. Currently, charts and procedures are published for a broad audience and are only updated every 28–56 days. This leaves pilots relying heavily on NOTAMs, which often contain critical updates that may only be relevant for a few hours or weeks.”
The shift to DDCs significantly enhances situational awareness, allowing pilots to make more informed decisions based on continuously updated navigation data.
These improvements extend beyond pilots—they also benefit air traffic controllers and ground operations. As air traffic volumes increase, controllers will be able to send real-time routes and data directly to pilots, enabling a more connected, data-driven airspace. Predictive intelligence and automation will be key to managing congestion and maintaining airspace safety.
Customization Opportunities for Operators Using Navigation Solutions
As aviation navigation evolves, customization is becoming increasingly important. Operators are seeking ways to tailor navigation data to suit the specific needs of their aircraft, flight plans, and operational procedures. This trend is particularly relevant for aircraft original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), airlines, and pilots, who can benefit from the ability to create data-driven, personalized navigation solutions.
At the heart of this shift is Performance’s FlightMap API, a new offering that enables aircraft display manufacturers and developers to seamlessly integrate real-time navigation data into their systems without requiring specialized rendering expertise.
Karalewich emphasizes:
“We believe data-driven charts (DDCs) are the future. The ability to customize navigation data is an exciting prospect for OEMs, airlines, and pilots.”
While Performance does not offer a full DDC solution, our application program interfaces (APIs) power FlightMap API, providing the essential building blocks that allow operators to develop their own custom navigation systems. By offering a standardized interface that connects directly with industry-standard databases such as ARINC 424, ARINC 816-2, and AIXM, FlightMap API simplifies the process of integrating dynamic navigation data into existing display systems.
Why does this matter?
Developing DDCs has traditionally been a highly complex process, requiring expertise in both display systems and multiple aviation databases, such as:
- Airport Mapping Database (DO-272)
- Flight Data (DO-424)
- Single Frequency Airborne Navigation Equipment (DO-229)
- Minimum Aviation System Performance Standards (DO-236)
- Aeronautical Information Exchange Model (AIXM)
Without the right tools, integrating these data sources into a seamless, user-friendly navigation system can be time-consuming and costly. That’s where FlightMap API comes in—it eliminates many of these challenges by providing a ready-made, DO-178 certified library that reduces integration complexity, lowers costs, and accelerates development.
Discover the Future of Navigation
The future of aviation is here, and Performance is at the forefront of delivering intelligent, data-driven navigation solutions. To learn more about Performance’s newest offering, the Performance FlightMap API, and how it enables avionics displays to integrate with intelligent, data-driven chart APIs, contact us today!
