Basic Area Navigation (B-RNAV or B-NAV) refers to a navigation system that uses a combination of ground-based and airborne navigation aids to provide pilots with accurate and reliable navigation information.

Basic Area Navigation is an intermediate navigation system that was introduced to bridge the gap between traditional ground-based navigation aids, such as VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range) and NDB (Non-Directional Beacon), and more advanced satellite-based navigation systems, such as GPS (Global Positioning System).

The key characteristics of Basic Area Navigation include:

1. Area navigation: B-RNAV allows pilots to navigate through a network of defined areas, rather than relying on traditional point-to-point navigation.
2. Ground-based navigation aids: B-RNAV uses a combination of ground-based navigation aids, such as VOR, NDB, and DME (Distance Measuring Equipment), to provide navigation information.
3. Airborne navigation equipment: Aircraft are equipped with specialized navigation equipment, such as RNAV (Area Navigation) systems, which use a combination of sensors and computer algorithms to determine the aircraft's position and provide navigation guidance.
4. Accuracy and reliability: B-RNAV is designed to provide a higher level of accuracy and reliability than traditional navigation systems, with a goal of achieving an accuracy of 5 nautical miles (9.3 kilometers) or better.

Basic Area Navigation was widely used in the 1980s and 1990s, particularly in Europe and North America, as a stepping stone towards more advanced navigation systems. However, with the advent of satellite-based navigation systems, such as GPS and WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System), B-RNAV has largely been replaced by more advanced navigation systems that offer even higher levels of accuracy and reliability.