Do airlines still fly NDB approaches?
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Do airlines still fly NDB approaches?
Have been wondering this question for a while, in the world of RNAV, ILS, RNP etc would an airline like QANTAS or even Jetstar or Tiger still fly an NDB approach on occasion?
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Not right Nitpicker........all Qlinks Q400's have NDB's in fact the last two sims included NDB approaches. So, yes NDB's still flown - for how much longer-? Who knows
Remains of the day for civvy GPS...
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Looking that it wont be long before them old NDB's are needed agin.
Some weeks back terrorists sent a cheap little GPS guided drone (UAV/UAS) into Israel via the sea. The worlds most heavily defended airspace didn't see the drone until it were over land. Took two F16's and two expensive missiles plus a bit of scrambling of the GPS signal to destroy the terrorist drone...
All that trouble just because of one little Hezbollah drone. More to come.....
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...All of the new a/c in the last 5 years haven't been fitted with ADF's anyway.
Some weeks back terrorists sent a cheap little GPS guided drone (UAV/UAS) into Israel via the sea. The worlds most heavily defended airspace didn't see the drone until it were over land. Took two F16's and two expensive missiles plus a bit of scrambling of the GPS signal to destroy the terrorist drone...
All that trouble just because of one little Hezbollah drone. More to come.....
.
Some airfields may have an ILS on the most used runway and a non precision approach onto the reciprocal for occasions when the tailwind component is in excess of limits.
An NDB approach being available together with an ADF in the aircraft may be useful to satisfy legal requirements when flight planning, but is unlikely to be used in anger. Most A320/B737 airports can at least provide a VOR approach.
I think I flew an NDB in the SIM a few years back but have never flown an actual one since coming off turboprops.
An NDB approach being available together with an ADF in the aircraft may be useful to satisfy legal requirements when flight planning, but is unlikely to be used in anger. Most A320/B737 airports can at least provide a VOR approach.
I think I flew an NDB in the SIM a few years back but have never flown an actual one since coming off turboprops.
These days with C145/146 GPS receivers, you don't even need an NDB to satisfy alternate requirements (in most cases).
morno
morno
Missing Link:--- what's not right with what I posted? In fact with regards to my Airline I am 100% correct. NDB's are no longer approved AND all new Airbus and Boeing's in the last 5 years ARE NOT FITTED WITH ADF's
Perhaps I wasn't clear enough, I was referring to all new a/c in my fleet.
Perhaps I wasn't clear enough, I was referring to all new a/c in my fleet.
Last edited by nitpicker330; 2nd Dec 2012 at 10:48.
nitpicker,
How on earth are you meant to listen to the cricket then?
How on earth are you meant to listen to the cricket then?
For example - inbound to AYQ the GPWS fails - not allowed to do RNAV approach.
Can still do NDB overlay approach using GPS in lieu of NDB, so you are technically still doing an NDB approach even without an ADF fitted to the aircraft.
Bottums Up
Originally Posted by Capn Bloggs
Perhaps you could explain to the masses what you do at AYE when the weather's a bit ****e??!! 
But seeing as you ask, RNAV-Z RWY13 or 31.
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Can still do NDB overlay approach using GPS in lieu of NDB, so you are technically still doing an NDB approach even without an ADF fitted to the aircraft.
How do you fly an NDB approach without an ADF? To me, an "overlay" approach is where two different promulgated approaches share the same horizontal profile. If one aid or receiver fails, you might continue on the other if they are depicted on the same approach plate. Different minima may apply. NDB or VOR RWY36 at YBSU is one example.
Just because my jet can draw an inbound line and follow it without raw data available, I'm not aware of any reference that permits it. (Emergencies not withstanding)
Can still do NDB overlay approach using GPS in lieu of NDB, so you are technically still doing an NDB approach even without an ADF fitted to the aircraft.