Learning to Fly the NDB

Like driving a stick shift on a car, the non-directional beacon (NDB) approach is a handy skill for pilots.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, December 04, 2024 at 08:51 AM ET

Verified

Edited By: tccjeremy

The fact is that NDB approaches, while increasingly rare, are still out there. [Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

NDB/ADF approaches, though considered older technology and increasingly rare, remain a relevant skill for instrument pilots as they are still covered by FAA documentation and can be tested during check rides, serving as a valuable backup navigation method.
The NDB is a ground-based transmitter that sends low-frequency signals, which are received by an aircraft's Automatic Direction Finder (ADF) to indicate the relative bearing to the station using a needle, allowing pilots to calculate their magnetic bearing for navigation.
Pilots flying NDB approaches must be aware of its limitations, including signal interference from terrain, weather, and night effects, and must employ specific techniques for accurate tracking and precise wind corrections to maintain the desired course.

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Do you know how to fly a non-directional beacon (NDB) approach using an automatic direction finder (ADF)? Could you teach someone how to do it?

Before you go off on the “new and better technology” available to instrument pilots, no one is disputing that. But the fact is that NDB approaches, while increasingly rare, are still out there. And there are still airplanes equipped with ADFs that enable the pilot to fly these NDB approaches—if only someone taught them how.