Future of NDB/ADF
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: The Land Downunder
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pah,
When I did my ATPL subjects 10 years ago we were told not to worry too much about NDB's as NATS and the CAA where about to phase out NDB's. Still using them in my A320 today!
When I did my ATPL subjects 10 years ago we were told not to worry too much about NDB's as NATS and the CAA where about to phase out NDB's. Still using them in my A320 today!
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: EuroGA.org
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Am I right though in thinking that you must have an ADF to fly an NDB approach?
For a Class D airport it was clear enough because it is CAS and you are obviously IFR so the enroute equipment carriage regs deal with the issue.
It is possible that the reason the CAA is clearly deliberately dragging its feet on removing the enroute ADF requirement (IFR in CAS) is because there is no reg specifying equipment carriage when flying an approach. They would have to add one into the ANO, otherwise they would be opening an obvious and highly visible hole enabling the use of "any" GPS for all approaches.
Still using them in my A320 today!
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Well, yes, there are masses of NDBs around Europe and I cannot see them disappearing.
The UK may have privatised ATC etc so there is a drive to dismantle as much infrastructure as possible, but this is not the case in most of Europe where the stuff is firmly nationalised.
This is why I think an IFR aircraft without an ADF is not useful for European IFR - unless one takes the view that using GPS is better, which is quite true as a practical proposition, but any electronic device can pack up, and if your GPS packs up, then you are down to the ADF...
The UK may have privatised ATC etc so there is a drive to dismantle as much infrastructure as possible, but this is not the case in most of Europe where the stuff is firmly nationalised.
This is why I think an IFR aircraft without an ADF is not useful for European IFR - unless one takes the view that using GPS is better, which is quite true as a practical proposition, but any electronic device can pack up, and if your GPS packs up, then you are down to the ADF...
I was browsing through my log book and as near as I can figure the last time I flew a for real NDB approach in IMC without GPS supplemental track guidance, was 1994 
Ever since then I have always broken out of the cloud with the runway at straight ahead and with the track of the aircraft aligned with the runway centerline thanks to the magic of GPS. Thank God for better living through high technology. The ADF is 80 year old technology, there are still ludites that insist it has value but the advantages of modern nav aids are so compelling I can not see how they will not be able to hold on to the ADF requirement much longer. In this area the bean counters are actually out friend as making the case to continue to spend money maintaining NDB's will be harder and harder in this economy.
Ever since then I have always broken out of the cloud with the runway at straight ahead and with the track of the aircraft aligned with the runway centerline thanks to the magic of GPS. Thank God for better living through high technology. The ADF is 80 year old technology, there are still ludites that insist it has value but the advantages of modern nav aids are so compelling I can not see how they will not be able to hold on to the ADF requirement much longer. In this area the bean counters are actually out friend as making the case to continue to spend money maintaining NDB's will be harder and harder in this economy.
The UK may have privatised ATC etc so there is a drive to dismantle as much infrastructure as possible, but this is not the case in most of Europe where the stuff is firmly nationalised.
