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On the following High IFR chart from skyvector.com I notice along the meridian at 30' intervals there is a green symbol the same shape as an RNAV waypoint. Next to them are 5-digit identifiers, but it is alphanumeric rather than the usual 5-letter fix name. What are these symbols and what are they used for? Can they be entered into the FMS?

enter image description here

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  • $\begingroup$ It is part of the hgh altitude redesign program. You can read about it in the back of the Chart Supplements US booklet, formerly AF/D. $\endgroup$
    – wbeard52
    Jul 11, 2016 at 18:15

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That's part of the High Altitude Redesign (HAR) program.

As far as the available information, it's now available for flights above FL390, and only in certain ARTCC's in the U.S.

The waypoint naming convention is as follows:

enter image description here

There are plans to have this system implemented worldwide.

The pilot will no longer be limited by airways based on ground navaids. I.e. they'll make their own airways based on those waypoints. It's called Non-Restrictive Routing (NRR).

This way they can plan to fly around the weather, yet remain close to the great circle route. The waypoints are also easy to relay and eliminates confusion when re-routing, as the identifiers are based on their location.

Comparison to the ground-based navaids is shown below:

enter image description here

More information:

FAA AC 90-99, and NRS Description.

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  • $\begingroup$ That circular has me confused. It looks like NRR flights are still following airways, just Q instead of J. Am I missing something? $\endgroup$
    – TomMcW
    Jul 11, 2016 at 17:37
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    $\begingroup$ Is this what we Europeans know as Free Route Airspace (FRA). Or something else entirely? $\endgroup$
    – 60levelchange
    Jul 11, 2016 at 18:31
  • $\begingroup$ Sounds like the basis for a whole new question, @J.Hougaard $\endgroup$
    – FreeMan
    Jul 11, 2016 at 20:01
  • $\begingroup$ @TomMcW My understanding is you make your own Q airways out of those waypoints. I updated the answer. $\endgroup$
    – user14897
    Jul 12, 2016 at 6:15

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