Old-School NDB Cool

If youre wondering if you should schedule a removal of your old ADF along with that Apollo LORAN youre yanking and tanking at the next annual, Perhaps you should consider a trip to Canada. NDB navigation is more alive up there than down here. If you dont yet have that IFR-certified GPS, you may even have a chance to dust off those NDB approach skills lurking in the back of your IFR mind.

Editorial Staff

Tuesday, January 06, 2015 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A pilot recounts a challenging IFR flight into Toronto City (CYTZ) requiring an NDB DME approach due to unavailable modern navigation and a panel with outdated avionics.
The flight highlights numerous difficulties, including an unreliable ADF, confusion regarding paired DME frequencies, and navigating around significant urban obstacles.
The scenario underscores the complexities and risks of legacy navigation methods, emphasizing the critical importance of meticulous flight planning and decisive action under pressure.

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If you’re wondering if you should schedule a removal of your old ADF along with that Apollo LORAN you’re yanking and tanking at the next annual, Perhaps you should consider a trip to Canada. NDB navigation is more alive up there than down here. If you don’t yet have that IFR-certified GPS, you may even have a chance to dust off those NDB approach skills lurking in the back of your IFR mind.

Let’s push the limits of credulity (just a bit) and say you’re bound for Toronto City (CYTZ) on a low, gray day with avionics that were top-of-line when Watergate was still a news item. You got a great deal on a hotel weekend on Priceline and you don’t want to miss it.