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Teaching and Learning Flying - Airplane Instrument Rating

NDB Navigation


DEFINITION

NDB navigation consists of using the aircraft ADF to determine bearings to and from, and to intercept and track bearings to and from NDB stations.

SAFETY FACTORS

Knowledge and skill in NDB navigation lead to enhanced positional awareness and safer, more accurate flight, and are the foundation for mastery of the NDB nonprecision instrument approach.

TOLERANCES

Instrument Rating PTS (FAA-S-8081-4D)
V.A. Intercepting and tracking navigational systems
To determine that the applicant:
  1. Exhibits adequate knowledge of the elements related to intercepting and tracking navigational systems and DME arcs.
  2. Tunes and correctly identifies the navigation facility.
  3. Sets and correctly orients the course to be intercepted into the course selector or correctly identifies the course on the RMI.
  4. Intercepts the specified course at a predetermined angle, inbound or outbound from a navigational facility.
  5. Maintains the airspeed within +/-10 knots, altitude within +/-100 feet, and selected headings within +/-5°.
  6. Applies proper correction to maintain a course, allowing no more than ¾-scale deflection of the CDI or within +/-10° in case of an RMI.
  7. Determines the aircraft position relative to the navigational facility or from a waypoint in the case of GPS.
  8. Intercepts a DME arc and maintains that arc within +/- 1 nautical mile.
  9. Recognizes navigational receiver or facility failure, and when required reports the failure to ATC.

OBJECTIVES

Encourage mastery of the elements of NDB navigation.
Develop student knowledge and skill in NDB navigation to meet the Instrument Pilot PTS.

PROCEDURES

Preflight
Discussion Inflight Postflight
  • Critique student performance

COMMON ERRORS

  • Incorrect tuning and indentification procedures
      1. Check correct facility
      2. Correct frequency
      3. Correct Morse code ID
  • Failure to understand NDB orientation procedure
      RB + MH = MB TO Station
  • Failure to use proper procedures for course interception and tracking
      Follow proper procedures in order like a checklist
  • Homing instead of tracking (relying solely on ADF instead of correlating with heading)
  • Poor orientation due to failure to follow proper steps in orientation and tracking
  • Careless interception angles after rushing initial orientation procedure
  • Overshooting or undershooting MB often due to forgetting the course interception angle
  • Failure to maintain heading
  • Failure to understand ADF limitations
  • Over-correcting (chasing the ADF needle) due to failure to understand or recognize station approach
  • Failure to keep heading indicator set to agree with magnetic compass
References
    14 CFR parts 61, 91
    AIM
    Instrument Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-15


Greg Gordon MD, CFII
Updated: