What is an Area Navigation (RNAV) system?

An Area Navigation (RNAV) system is designed to enable an aircraft to navigate using defined waypoints rather than relying solely on traditional navigational aids located on the ground. This capability allows for more flexible flight paths, optimized routes, and improved efficiency in air traffic management. By utilizing waypoints, pilots can follow more direct routes, reducing flight times and fuel consumption. RNAV systems incorporate various types of navigation technologies, including GPS, to determine the aircraft's position with precision, making it an essential advancement in modern aviation navigation.

The other options represent different aspects of aviation but do not accurately define an RNAV system. Communication systems for pilots focus on communication between air traffic control and the crew, while methods for measuring vertical speed pertain to altitude change rather than navigation. Radar-based navigation aids, while useful, involve ground-based systems that provide positional information rather than the waypoints featured in RNAV systems. Thus, the proper recognition of how RNAV functions makes option B the correct choice.