NON-DIRECTIONAL

BEACON
NDB
GROUND BASED EQUIPMENT
NDBs are rarely found in the US, But still
common in Canada.
Used in busier areas as a means of identifying
approach fixes (ILS), and as a sole means of
navigation and approach in remote areas.
(unless equipped with GPS)
NDB facilities are relatively inexpensive to build
and maintain.
NDB simplicity is its greatest strength.
Essentially an AM radio transmitter.
AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT
Receiver
Control Head
Indicator (Automatic Direction Finder)
Fixed Card relative bearing
Rotatable Card magnetic bearing
Radio Magnetic Indicator (RMI) magnetic bearing
The head of the needle always points to the station.
Two Antennas
Sense non-directional signal
Loop directional signal (180 ambiguity without
sense)
Note: see propilot simulation
OPERATION
The desired frequency is tuned.
The station is identified.
ANT setting may be used to identify station, but
no directional information will be available, ADF
must be selected prior to navigation.
ADF equipment has no flag system to indicate
reception, therefore pilots must monitor the
audible identifier of the station anytime ADF is
the sole means of navigation and throughout the
approach phase of flight.
Note: some EFIS displays incorporate a flag warning
system, making audio monitoring unnecessary.
SELKIRK AVIATION SOP 2.8.11
Monitoring ADF Audio
When IFR or simulated IFR and navigating by ADF,
the ADF audio identifier will be monitored during all
NDB instrument departures and approaches. When
navigating enroute with ADF only, pilots should check
the Morse code identifier frequently to confirm the
station is still working.
When flying GPS overlay approaches that have been
properly setup from the database it is not necessary
to monitor ADF audio.
ERRORS
Bank Error needle will point down to the
station when aircraft is banked.
Quadrantal error Caused by the
refraction (bending) of the incoming radio
waves by the aircraft structure.
Minimum when station is off cardinal points
(nose, tail, or wingtip).
Maximum in between.
LIMITATIONS
Skip Zone: an area of erratic indication or signal
loss between the points where the ground wave
ends and the sky wave hits the ground.
Night Effect: occurs at night due to the
reception of sky waves reflected by the
ionosphere. It is most pronounced at sunrise
and sunset. Has a greater effect on higher
frequencies. More pronounced further from the
station.
Fading: similar to night effect although the
erratic indications are caused by out of phase
signals. Usually results in a rhythmic swinging of
the needle.
Shoreline Effect: water and land have
different levels of conductivity causing the
signal to bend as it crosses a shoreline.
(most pronounced at angles of less than
30 with the shoreline; accounted for on
published airways.)
Terrain: mountains and natural magnetic
disturbances effect signals. (accounted for
on published airways.)
Interference: if an ADF receives two
signals it will alternate back and forth
between them until one becomes
dominant. (needle will swing back and
forth.)
Thunderstorms: electrical disturbances
cause static interference and erroneous or
erratic indications. The needle will
sometimes point towards the storm.
ACCURACY
Systems are flight checked to an accuracy
of at least +/- 5 for approach and +/- 10
for en route. The accuracy of an NDB at
any given time is difficult to determine
when considering all the factors creating
errors. However the accuracy will be
adequate for the purpose intended. (en-
route 50-75nm range, approach 25nm
range.)