Glass cockpit and listening to the NDB

[badco99]

During ground school today the question came up of whether or not you have to listen to the NDB while in use in a glass cockpit? No one was 100% sure. The instructor believed you could basically ID like a VOR, just identify the NDB and then you could turn the sound off and there would be an indication on the screen showing if it was still working. If it went out then you know it's not. Of course the safe thing to do is just leave it on, but I'm sure we can all agree that it can drive you a little nuts after a few minutes.

Thanks!

[B767Driver]

Most EFIS systems I've used will display the Navaid Identifier on the EHSI. Many manufacturers will state that if the visual Identification is present it will suffice for monitoring purposes.

[JDE]

Originally Posted by B767Driver

Most EFIS systems I've used will display the Navaid Identifier on the EHSI. Many manufacturers will state that if the visual Identification is present it will suffice for monitoring purposes.

I've been wondering that...thanks for the info!

[Kingairer]

It wont show up if its not receiving it. I aint listening to that crap either.

[FlyChicaga]

At least at my company, we aren't permitted to do NDB approaches, so the ADF is pretty much pointless. We can, however, program an NDB into the FMS if told to fly direct-to an NDB. On my former aircraft, we actually did NDB approaches (flown some on the line in actual), but we didn't continuously ID. Like said above, the needle would disappear.

[Texasspilot]

does it indicate anything if you pick up radio stations?

[badco99]

Thanks everyone.

[SierraPilot123]

Not sure if this applies to what you ar talking about, but on a glass cockpit like the G1000 system the NDBs are simply a GPS waypoint. Therefore there is no need to ID the stations and monitor their signals. You can still use the NDBs even if they are out of service.

[tonyw]

Man, when they take the NDBs out, it's gonna suck. I won't be able to listen to AM radio anymore!

Ah, wait. With the Garmin 396, I can listen to XM radio. Woo hoo!

[Philip]

all I have to say is:

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
BEEEEEEEEEEEEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
BEEEEEEEEEEEEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
BEEEEEEEEEEEEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
BEEEEEEEEEEEEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
BEEEEEEEEEEEEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
BEEEEEEEEEEEEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP

[MidlifeFlyer]

Glass cockpit with an NDB? Is there really such a thing?

[airplay]

Originally Posted by MidlifeFlyer

Glass cockpit with an NDB? Is there really such a thing?

There is such an option. It must be purchased, it does not come with the unit out of the box. As previously stated the nav aid will be automatically identified just like the VOR’s.

[goredbirds]

All our airplanes have not just one, but 2 independent ADFs. Funny how we just removed NDB approaches from our ops specs...

I don't know how I'd get through baseball season if I didn't have the ADF...

[PeanuckleCRJ]

At 9E, we have to listen to them when doing an NDB approach... the needle will also dissappear. You fly the FMS course but have the RMI pointers up for both ADFs. They finally decomissioned the dreaded NDB 9 approach into MEM that was the staple for all checkrides. Never failed to them to kill one of your recievers when crossing ELVIS.

I've flown a couple real ones on the line, too. Pretty cool doing that in a jet.. wouldn't want to have to do it in a bad day though. Was just marginal conditions when we got assigned it.


In short- yes, in some glass cockpit planes you end up listening to the stupid thing.

[dgRoot]

Originally Posted by SierraPilot123

Not sure if this applies to what you ar talking about, but on a glass cockpit like the G1000 system the NDBs are simply a GPS waypoint. Therefore there is no need to ID the stations and monitor their signals. You can still use the NDBs even if they are out of service.

So, technically speaking, unless an NDB approach has a GPS overly, you can't shoot it? I don't have any time in the G1000 yet, but I don't even know what purpose an NDB would serve with that system. I guess you could identify the NDB, but who does that unless shotting approaches?

[MidlifeFlyer]

Originally Posted by airplay

There is such an option. It must be purchased, it does not come with the unit out of the box. As previously stated the nav aid will be automatically identified just like the VOR’s.

I still don't understand. I would have thought the same thing as Sierra Pilot that it's just another GPS waypoint rather than an NDB receiver.

Are you saying that there's an option that allows, say, a G1000, to pick up NDB signals with an ADF-style antenna?

[PeanuckleCRJ]

No we shoot it using the FMS to draw a course and the raw data needles backing it up. The CRJ is not RNAV (re: GPS) approach approved... We can do it without the FMS course drawn on it just as well was with it... just a matter of thinking more. I had to do a single engine raw data NDB approach on my type ride

[Kingairer]

Those MLS's are real bears.

[TonyC]

I can't speak for ALL FMSes, obviously, but I can describe the Honeywell system on the MD-11. Two ADF receivers are installed, and they can be automatically or manually tuned. Either way, the identifier only displays on the Navigation Display when the signal is received and the morse code identifier is decoded. Listening to the aural ident is not required. If the identifier is displayed, it is Tuned & Identified. If dashes are displayed, it's not.




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