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NDB Approaches / Holds on Mesaba interview?

  • Thread starter Thread starter BoDEAN
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From what I've heard, it's true. If it's a problem, I most certainly would get it sorted out prior to the sim or prior to line ops in the UP if you are hired and awarded the SF340! Gotta love those NDB approaches to mins in blizzards and thunderstorms.
 
Say Goodbye to Hundreds of NDB Approaches
Starting today, 216 NDB approaches will be decommissioned. Although the FAA has yet to actually switch them off the air, the decommissioned NDB stations will no longer be flight-checked, maintained, approved for use or shown on updated charts, according to AOPA. “The FAA decommissioned them after careful coordination with AOPA and the aviation community,” said Randy Kenagy, AOPA director of advanced technology. This means that the FAA “can stop spending money on something few use and will have more funds for GPS-WAAS approaches to general aviation airports,” he added. The FAA has proposed decommissioning a total of 479 NDB procedures, with the final set of procedures scheduled to be eliminated in September. AOPA told the agency that 60 NDB approaches should be saved because they provided the lowest minimums. However, the FAA retained just 35 of the 60, according to AOPA.

Very soon these darn things will be a thing of the past!
 
turbodriver said:
You people can't do a NDB hold?

What's wrong with you? You don't deserve to fly that jet if you can't.

Some Majors arent even allowed to fly NDP approaches, or do NDB holds anymore...but yes true that is a part of basic instrument flying
 
AmEagle just stopped doing them in the sim during training and for all PC checks. They're being pulled out of our jepps with each revision.
 
BoDEAN said:
This true? If so, have to hit the sim ASAP.

I interviewed there last February and was asked to do an NDB hold at the outer marker on an ILS on the final approach course. So yes, there was an "NDB Hold," but think about it...
 
EatSleepFly said:
I interviewed there last February and was asked to do an NDB hold at the outer marker on an ILS on the final approach course. So yes, there was an "NDB Hold," but think about it...

Just dont make it obvious that you have the ILS frq on your Nav radio ;)
 
I noticed quite a few NDB approaches being pulled from our last Jepps revision as well. Still doing them in the sim for PCs and RFTs however.

MM
 
BoDEAN said:
This true? If so, have to hit the sim ASAP.

I just finished training at Mesaba and had the opportunity to perform NDB holds in the interview, as well as in the simulator. The simulator schedule also leaves time for NDB approaches if your sim instructor wishes to have you practice them ( and you will ). The checkride ( or PC ) will entail at least one non-precision approach in some cases it will be single engine. Though it may be a LOC only approach it would be in your best interest to practice the NDB holds and approaches as well as the dreaded ARC to LOC approach or ILS. Though we don't perform these approaches often, or perhaps BECAUSE we don't perform them often enough, it would be in your best interest to get all the practice you can. When you get to the line it becomes a gamble when you might be asked to do one, and you must be prepared. If you are coming from flight instructing, then it shouldn't be very difficult. Good luck! You are about to learn the sad news that the average ground school instructor has never flown the aircraft they are training you to fly, so STUDY HARD and ask for help from the captains in your class, they will be your saving grace!
 
I've been at Mesaba for over 4 years and on my last PC I got to do the NDB approach and the captain did a LOC BC. Expect it in every training/checking event. As for NDBs being decommissioned, until we have gps in our Saabs(probably never) we will most likely always have a handful of airports where the NDB approach is an option. Especially in Canada.

Welcome aboard for all of our newhires!
 
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Did one on my type and did one on the last PC. Mesaba is jumping into the 1990's. We now bid online and get our per diem direct deposited.
 

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