ADF required for IR(R) and IFR?
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To be fair in the UK it's more normal for the NDB to be on the airfield, so at least the error diminishes as you get closer to the runway. (NDB is then also MAPt.) NDB is still IAF (and hold) with a teardrop course reversal or extended racetrack with DME or timing for the FAF.
NDBs on the approach like that have mostly disappeared though I know they are common elsewhere.
NDBs on the approach like that have mostly disappeared though I know they are common elsewhere.
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I fly a fair number of NDB approaches in fact coupled with the occasional NDB/localizer approach it's pretty well all that I fly.
OK they might not be the worlds greatest aid but they do work and I tend to find most of my inaccuracies due to my flying.
They are also a lot of them about. Off the top of my head I can't think of a single airfield with an instrument approach that doesn't also have an NDB approach as an option and frequently forms the only approach onto the "non into wind" runway.
I'm also under the impression that the operational costs of an NDB approach is low. Hence they may well be around for a lot longer yet.
OK they might not be the worlds greatest aid but they do work and I tend to find most of my inaccuracies due to my flying.
They are also a lot of them about. Off the top of my head I can't think of a single airfield with an instrument approach that doesn't also have an NDB approach as an option and frequently forms the only approach onto the "non into wind" runway.
I'm also under the impression that the operational costs of an NDB approach is low. Hence they may well be around for a lot longer yet.
They are also a lot of them about.
I'm also under the impression that the operational costs of an NDB approach is low.
Last edited by n5296s; 3rd Jan 2017 at 07:36.
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There is no doubt that the pilot world is de-skilling fast, I would hardly have called doing an ADF approach a nightmare, it was light relief after a VDF approach.
What concerns me the most is the enhanced situational awareness that modern systems give seems to have taken the situational awareness out of the modern pilots brain and put it on the screen.......... so what happens when the screen goes blank and the pilot just has a bunch of needles for navigation ?
What concerns me the most is the enhanced situational awareness that modern systems give seems to have taken the situational awareness out of the modern pilots brain and put it on the screen.......... so what happens when the screen goes blank and the pilot just has a bunch of needles for navigation ?
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What concerns me the most is the enhanced situational awareness that modern systems give seems to have taken the situational awareness out of the modern pilots brain and put it on the screen..........
so what happens when the screen goes blank and the pilot just has a bunch of needles for navigation ?
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Except you're still forced to do all that during training...
I don't see it as de-skilling, it's evolution. How many pilots were competent in using GNSS 10-15 years ago compared to now?
I don't see it as de-skilling, it's evolution. How many pilots were competent in using GNSS 10-15 years ago compared to now?
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Evolution would be the replacement of NDB with GPS approaches, until then accepting pilots who don't have the skills to use the available approches is de-skilling.
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Thank guys, some interesting responses.
It sounds like it is not an actual requirement either for training or logging IFR. That will help in my search for a share.
It sounds like it is not an actual requirement either for training or logging IFR. That will help in my search for a share.
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You do need some way of doing single needle work during the training though, but it doesn't have to be an actual ADF.
For example, you could use the AUX pointer on an MFD to track a GPS waypoint.
For example, you could use the AUX pointer on an MFD to track a GPS waypoint.
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Stevelup
It matters not how you look at this there are places that you can't fly to IFR without ADF & DME if you want to stay within the law.
While I am very pro GPS ( my aircraft was fully leagal for NP GPS approaches back in late 2007 ) I am not so obsessed with the GPS that I will chuck out the ADF & DME during the current upgrade to WAAS GPS. For the forseable future all of this equipment will have its place for IFR flight in Europe.
It matters not how you look at this there are places that you can't fly to IFR without ADF & DME if you want to stay within the law.
While I am very pro GPS ( my aircraft was fully leagal for NP GPS approaches back in late 2007 ) I am not so obsessed with the GPS that I will chuck out the ADF & DME during the current upgrade to WAAS GPS. For the forseable future all of this equipment will have its place for IFR flight in Europe.
you can't fly to IFR without ADF & DME if you want to stay within the law.
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Whenever I (seldom) fly one for work, they are often annotated overlay approaches only. This means we have to display one side at least raw data needles.
Always flown from the box, of course, that way we get a VGP (virtual glide path) and fly to a DH, hence we still need an ADF.
Always flown from the box, of course, that way we get a VGP (virtual glide path) and fly to a DH, hence we still need an ADF.
N4790P
It's not just Boeing. Airbus dropped the DDRMI from their aircraft standard fit about 5 years ago.
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n5206s
Boeing may have dropped the ADF as standard fit from some of its aircraft but the problem is that it will result in the aircraft not being able to land in some European destinations if the weather is not VFR.
Just because an aircraft manufacturer decides no to fit a bit of kit this does not automaticly change the rules.
Just because an aircraft manufacturer decides no to fit a bit of kit this does not automaticly change the rules.
it will result in the aircraft not being able to land in some European destinations if the weather is not VFR.
There must be more to this...
N4790P
I really find that hard to believe. Especially because if this is a regulatory issue, it's not just a question of the weather - in the US at least (and I'm pretty sure elsewhere) if you don't have required equipment for IFR, you can't even file IFR. And I can't believe that airlines would buy aircraft that can't operate under IFR in their own country! Since the only 100-200 seat aircraft on the market are the 737 and the 32x, that would end up being the case.
There must be more to this...
There must be more to this...
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I would display a needle if it formed any part of the procedure, but still fly it from the FMS. Again, you can legally use FMS as long as you are displaying raw data.
From one of my past types (EMB 500),
From one of my past types (EMB 500),
The Garmin integrated avionics system makes extensive use of GPS.
ADF and VOR DME procedures are flown as GPS overlay procedures. Display of the primary source upon which a procedure is based is required.
VOR/DME and ADF can be selected manually and displayed on the HIS.
ADF and VOR DME procedures are flown as GPS overlay procedures. Display of the primary source upon which a procedure is based is required.
VOR/DME and ADF can be selected manually and displayed on the HIS.
Last edited by Hawker 800; 4th Jan 2017 at 12:37.
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n2596s
It took me a while but a bit if digging about in the Boeing 787 flight manual and I find talk of Left And Right ADF and how to display the bearings.
Clearly it is a Boeing option and is likely to be chosen by those who need it, this seems to be reflected by reports that BA are not supporting ADF on their A320 fleet ( I shall check this ). BA are a Big airport operator and don't go to the smaller Southern European holiday destinations and so ADF is likely to be of limited use.
As the B737max has a lot of B787 technology I would expect ADF to be an option for those customers who want it.
Clearly it is a Boeing option and is likely to be chosen by those who need it, this seems to be reflected by reports that BA are not supporting ADF on their A320 fleet ( I shall check this ). BA are a Big airport operator and don't go to the smaller Southern European holiday destinations and so ADF is likely to be of limited use.
As the B737max has a lot of B787 technology I would expect ADF to be an option for those customers who want it.