Df

[midlifeflyer]

Just interesting.

When is the last time you heard of someone getting a DF steer? I didn't even realize the stations still existed but apparently they do and the FAA is planning to get rid of them.

The FAA published a request for public comment today. Here's the summary:

==============================
SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is requesting public
comment on a proposal to decommission all 54 Direction Finders (DF) and
the associated DF approaches in all states other than Alaska. DF's have
been used sparingly over the last nine years and the equipment is
beyond its useful lifecycle. Improved radar coverage, pilot education
and technologies such as area navigation (RNAV) and global positioning
satellite (GPS) have reduced the utilization of DF steers and have
essentially made DF's obsolete. A Federal Safety Risk Management Panel
(SRMP) has determined that if pilots need orientation assistance, that
our existing orientation methods, VOR, ADF, and GPS are reliable and
meet the needs of our aviation community. Decommissioning would
coincide with the Flight Services service provider's plan to
consolidate the 58 flight service stations to 20 facilities.

DATES: Send your comments on or before July 28, 2006.
==============================

The full notice is at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/06-5734.htm

 

[nosehair]

Yep, gone the way of the radio range.

 

[threegreen]

Great, there goes my primary means of navigation....

 

[wrxpilot]

Why is it that with the FAA getting rid of all these navaids and services (NDBs, VORs, FSS stations, and now DF steers) that they still claim to not have enough money and want user fees? Where's it all going?

 

[FN FAL]

Why is it that with the FAA getting rid of all these navaids and services (NDBs, VORs, FSS stations, and now DF steers) that they still claim to not have enough money and want user fees? Where's it all going?

Just because a fat guy skips a meal, it doesn't mean he's not fat or hungry.

 

[midlifeflyer]

Why is it that with the FAA getting rid of all these navaids and services (NDBs, VORs, FSS stations, and now DF steers) that they still claim to not have enough money and want user fees? Where's it all going?

You don't =really= want to start a political discussion of that, do you?

IMO it's about cutting budgets. Whether you think it's a good thing or a bad one (which usually depends on which party is in control at the time) we have a large deficit - we have a government that is running primarily on credit. That usually means the need to cut non-essential services (what is "essential" also tends to be defined by ones political leanings).

I'm willing to take the FAA at it's word (so far) that the use of DF steers has diminished to the point that it doesn't pay to retain them. I can see the same for NDBs although I'm not sure that the use of IFR certified GPS has yet reached the point where the loss of NDB approaches is justified (liberals may insert their comments about doing it just so that "corporate America" in the form of Garmin et al can force people to pay hugely-inflated prices to put them in their 1956 Cessna 172). The others, well, you get the idea...

 

[A Squared]

Just interesting.

When is the last time you heard of someone getting a DF steer? I didn't even realize the stations still existed but apparently they do and the FAA is planning to get rid of them.

Last time I heard of one being used was when I got a DF steer for pratice in oh... maybe 1985.