On May 29, a China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737-700 completed a flight into Linzhi airport in the mountainous region of Tibet to demonstrate an advanced method for aircraft navigation known as Required Navigation Performance. Through modern avionics and GPS, RNP flight procedures provide operators a highly effective tool for enabling safe and efficient operations in challenging terrain and weather conditions.

Working in cooperation, Boeing, Jeppesen, the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC), the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and China Eastern Airlines have been helping to support and expand new air traffic routes in China. The RNP arrival and departure procedures for Linzhi were designed by Jeppesen, a wholly-owned Boeing subsidiary.

This flight demonstrates the airlines adherence to CAAC requirements for airline RNP operations into the airport and is an important step in validating the technology that allows the airline to conduct revenue flights into Linzhi.

"I'm pleased that the Boeing family continues to build on its long history of partnering with the Chinese government, regulatory agencies and airlines to advance aviation in China." said Chet Ekstrand, vice president of Regulatory Affairs for Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

"Working together, we are enabling access to locations previously inaccessible by air, and truly bringing the people of the world together as never before."