PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - When is a NDB approach not an NDB approach?
Old 2nd Dec 2012, 22:28
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Oktas8
 
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I'm an airline pilot. With my colleagues, I fly raw data NDB approaches every three to six months in the simulator, in the cyclic (recurrency) program.

But would I do it in real life in IMC? Goodness me no, unless there was absolutely no choice. Why on earth would I use
a 1930's era navigation aid
of dubious accuracy? I would love to fly it in FMS mode, but my SOPs don't permit it.

That said, as a GA examiner I would not have allowed an NDB approach to be flown entirely on FMS & autopilot, and still ticked the "NDB approach competency" box on the form. Whether legal or not, it's a bit of an airmanship short cut! Airline examiners may well of course have a different take...

Last edited by Oktas8; 2nd Dec 2012 at 22:55.
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