NDB Approaches

[pgcfii2002]

Is it legally required to keep the aural (beeping) on speaker during an NDB approach?

 

[Andy Neill]

Reference FAA-S-8081-4D, Instrument Rating Practical Test Standards, Airplane, Helicopter, Powered Lift:

VI Instrument Approach Procedures (p 1-9 - 1-10)
...Objective...
A. Task Non-Precision Approach...
4. Selects, tunes, and identifies, and confirms the operational status of navigation equipment to be used for the instrument approach.
....
*************
So you see that it is important enough to be used in the practical test standards and that applies to NDB, VOR, LOC, LDA,....

The question is, if you tune and identify and then turn the volume OFF, how will you confirm the operational status of that equipment during the approach? As long as it is loud enough to identify without impeding other flight functions, that should keep everyone happy.

Specifically required by reg? No, other than the catch-all careless and wreckless operation.

 

[Mickey]

I was flying an NDB approach once and got complacent about monitoring the tone. I turned the volume down because it was annoying me. I was heading towards the NDB to fly the outbound for the PT. I was tracking it perfectly. Or so I thought. After quite a few minutes I started questioning why I hadn't passed the NDB yet. I checked the volume and found my answer. I had accidentally turned it off and the pointer stayed fixed in it's last position. I had actually passed the station by several miles and was nowhere near where I was supposed to be. Luckily there was no high obstacles and I was able to fly another day. Lesson learned.

Take care!

 

[Say Again Over]

I had accidentally turned it off

Whoops !

 

[avbug]

I've seen a number of setups in which the GPS switch put the RMI on the GPS waypoint when selected to the VOR setting on the RMI...switchology confusion could easily put you monitoring the wrong navaid if you're not careful. That might include a GPS waypoint. Monitoring the aural tone does more than tell you the navaid is still working, though that's a critical aspect of flying the approach. Tune and identify isn't something you do just at the start of an approach, any more than you can clear the sky around you once and then stop looking for traffic. It's a continuous effort, not only to know that it's still functioning out there, but that you have the right navaid. Identify and forget really means forget. Remember that.

 

[Doc Holiday]

AIM 1-1-2(d)....."the pilot should continuosly monitor the NDB's identification"

 

[pgcfii2002]

Thanks for the feedback. I was looking at my original Instrument notes and since there is no flag to indicate malfunction, the aural should be monitored.

 

[Hopeless_in_GA]

NDB approach?

What is that, some type of Jurassic emergency procedure?