Are NDB's being phased out?
Thread Starter
Are NDB's being phased out?
I heard that this was the case in many parts of the world. Is it also the case in Oz as well, and if so, when? It's interesting to read in Aviation Safety Digest that pilots considered NDB approaches to be the most stressfull of all instrument approaches.
Grandpa Aerotart
Thankfully.
They are an anachronism...it is long past time for them to go the way of the Dodo.
Internationally they are rare as rocking horse poo...the ONLY time you fly one is in the sim each 6 mths.
I used to fly them as an almost daily occurrence in real tropical weather down to minima...and took great pleasure in doing them well...but GPS is the better option in all respects.
GPS NPAs are not without fault but in comparison they are still better than NDB NPAs.
They are an anachronism...it is long past time for them to go the way of the Dodo.
Internationally they are rare as rocking horse poo...the ONLY time you fly one is in the sim each 6 mths.
I used to fly them as an almost daily occurrence in real tropical weather down to minima...and took great pleasure in doing them well...but GPS is the better option in all respects.
GPS NPAs are not without fault but in comparison they are still better than NDB NPAs.
Chimbu Chuckles,
Hear, Hear, well said.
Here in the USA they have and are being de comissioned en masse for the past 18mo or so.
About time, they served their purpose in their time which is in the past.
Hear, Hear, well said.
Here in the USA they have and are being de comissioned en masse for the past 18mo or so.
About time, they served their purpose in their time which is in the past.
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I saw a 10 year plan by Airservices around 7 years ago, which had most of the NDB's in regional Aust. to be removed at its end. Don't know if this was going to happen or if it was just a proposal, but at the time I thought it was going ahead. From memory it was in the same proposal as the HF rationalisation project.
There are no NDB's in any of the new glass or series 4 avionics equiped cessna models which have been for sale in Aust fro some time.
richo
There are no NDB's in any of the new glass or series 4 avionics equiped cessna models which have been for sale in Aust fro some time.
richo
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Part of the ADSB subsidy to GA was a saving from the reduction of enroute radar and the phsaing out of NDB's.
Pity all is still not on track......do not get me started again!
SQ6969
Pity all is still not on track......do not get me started again!
SQ6969
ASA are currently in the process of a 3 year replacement program for most NDB's. Some will be decommissioned, such as Brisbane, but most replaced.
Cheaper to install and maintain than VOR's and only need checking every 3 years compared to 18 months for a VOR.
So don't throw out those NDB approach plates just yet.
Cheaper to install and maintain than VOR's and only need checking every 3 years compared to 18 months for a VOR.
So don't throw out those NDB approach plates just yet.
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Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I heard that the Brisbane NDB is no longer published in the ERSA? (i dont have a new up to date one)
Heard someone talking about it in my CPL theory class...
Heard someone talking about it in my CPL theory class...
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Seems you are correct, the NDB listed for Brisbane is actualy YBAF.......and if you did not look at the LAT & LONG you could actually make a bit of a stuff up there.....
I did see the DR using that ADF thingy on the way to LRE.....I just flew the GPS......had not seen an ADF in 3-4 years.......does it Mean Aust Defense Force or something????
SQ
I did see the DR using that ADF thingy on the way to LRE.....I just flew the GPS......had not seen an ADF in 3-4 years.......does it Mean Aust Defense Force or something????
SQ
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YesTAM, very good point!
Here in NZ until about 2 years ago there were still approaches on radio beacons - the same in principal. (2ZK?? in Masterton for example).
There are several in NZ which are notorious for giving huge errors, but still used by most as the primary aid.
Here in NZ until about 2 years ago there were still approaches on radio beacons - the same in principal. (2ZK?? in Masterton for example).
There are several in NZ which are notorious for giving huge errors, but still used by most as the primary aid.
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Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I heard that the Brisbane NDB is no longer published in the ERSA?
YesTAM, you get cricket scores from NDB's???
Hope you don't do approaches to them, could be interesting for the listeners!
And yes there was an initial plan to phase out NDB's, but being such a big country we need NDB's for enroute nav. Not all a/c have GPS.
When Forrest NDB went down a couple of years ago, it caused great havoc with VB as they relied upon it for nav purposes. The techs from Perth were scrambled to get it operational again very quickly.
I am led to believe it was after this that the decision was made not to phase them out but do an upgrade instead.
Hope you don't do approaches to them, could be interesting for the listeners!
And yes there was an initial plan to phase out NDB's, but being such a big country we need NDB's for enroute nav. Not all a/c have GPS.
When Forrest NDB went down a couple of years ago, it caused great havoc with VB as they relied upon it for nav purposes. The techs from Perth were scrambled to get it operational again very quickly.
I am led to believe it was after this that the decision was made not to phase them out but do an upgrade instead.
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this man speaks the truth. Most being replaced with new ones.
ASA are currently in the process of a 3 year replacement program for most NDB's. Some will be decommissioned, such as Brisbane, but most replaced.