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ADF & NDB

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Automatic Direction Finder (ADF)

&
Non Directional Beacon (NDB)
Lec 2

ADF & NDB

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Desired Learning Outcomes

At the end of this lecture, the student

should be able to:
Recall standard radio navigation aids
Describe the purpose of ADF & NDB
Correlate NDB frequency with propagation type
Explain the advantages & disadvantages of ADF
& NDB
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Standard Radio Navigation Aids

Standard radio navigation aids are pilot

interpreted
Navigation data is available onboard
• Instrument Landing System (ILS)
• Microwave Landing System (MLS)
• Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)
• VHF Omni-directional Range (VOR)
• Non-Directional Beacon (NDB)
• Distance Measuring Equipment (DME)
• En-route VHF Marker Beacons

Note: All conforming to the standards containing in Annex 10 Vol-I Chap 3

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Other Radio Navigation Aids

Some nav aids are ground interpreted

Navigation data is available to ATCOs
• Precision Approach Radar
• UHF Direction Finder

Note: All conforming to the standards containing in Annex 10 Vol-I Chap 3

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Concept of Transmitter and

Receiver
For every type of energy, there is always a
source that transmits it (transmitter) and to
experience it there shall always be a
receiver
In radio navigational aids
Transmitter and receiver are available at either
of the ground station and aircraft
Transceiver at both end
• Both ground station and airborne platform transmit
and receive

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Definition

ADF stands for Automatic Direction Finder

NDB stands for Non Directional Beacon
Older types of radio nav system
 Still in use today because of its simplicity
The signal transmitted by NDB does not
include directional information, but ADF
automatically searches for NDB signal
Non Directional Beacon (NDB) is used in
conjunction with Automatic Direction Finder
(ADF) in the cockpit
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Definition

ADF stands for Automatic Direction Finder

NDB stands for Non Directional Beacon
Older types of radio nav system
 Still in use today because of its simplicity
Which
The signalof the two is transmitter
transmitted by and
NDBwhich
doesis not
include directional receiver?
information, but ADF
automatically searches for NDB signal
Non Directional Beacon (NDB) is used in
conjunction with Automatic Direction Finder
(ADF) in the cockpit
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ADF & NDB Equipments

Non Directional
NDB equipment consist of Beacon

Ground NDB antenna located

near the airport (airfield area)
A transmitter housed inside a
nearby room
Rated Coverage
• Locator : 10 ~ 25 NM
• 25 ~ 150 NM
• > 150 NM

NDB Signal Pattern

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ADF & NDB Equipments

ADF equipment consists of

 ADF antennae (02) - Outside
aircraft’s body
• Receive and convey NDB signal to
receiver
 ADF receiver - Inside cockpit
• To tune frequency and receive
signal
 ADF indicator - Inside the
cockpit
• Displays the direction wrt NDB
station
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Purpose

The purpose of ADF/NDB is to provide aid to an

aircraft in navigation by providing bearing
information of aircraft wrt airport.
 Aircraft direction or heading to the airport in
degrees(angle)
Bearing: the angle measured in a clockwise
direction
NDB bearings provide a consistent method for
defining paths aircraft can fly
 Known as airways/ tracks
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NDB Frequencies

ICAO has assigned Low Frequency (LF)

and Medium Frequency (MF) band for
NDB
What type of propagation will this band follow?
Ground Wave propagation
It is within 190 – 1750 KHz.
However, most of NDB equipment is
found operating within frequency band of
200-525 KHz.
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How ADF & NDB works

NDB station radiates a non-directional signal in all

directions around its antenna (transmitter).
Station identification code(Callsign) in the form of
Morse Code is also transmitted by the NDB.
An ADF selector in aircraft will tune to NDB’s
frequency in order to search its signals.
After NDB call sign is identified, the direction of
aircraft in BEARING to the NDB station will be
indicated.
ADF indicator in the cockpit will display the bearing to
the NDB station relative to the heading of the aircraft.
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Magnetic

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Types/ Uses of NDB

Used for FLYING FROM NDB or HOMING TO NDB

when maintaining airway centre-lines. (Approach
NDBs)
Used for en-route navigational bearing(En Route
NDBs)
Used for HOLDING system before landing.

Used as markers for an Instrument Landing System

(ILS) approach
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FLYING FROM or HOMING TO

NDB station

Flying From

Homing To

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En-Route Navigation

Aircraft must maintain their heading using the

Automatic Direction Finding (ADF) in the cockpit.
Pilot must always watch the relative bearing
indicator to maintain the airway center line.

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Holding System

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Markers for an ILS approach

NDB can also be used as the markers for

Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach.
This type of NDB is also known as
LOCATOR.
Locator is a low power NDB.
It has signal range within 10 to 25 Nautical
Miles.
Now TDME is used for marker beacons
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Advantages of NDB

NDB signal can be received at low altitudes.

 This is because NDB signal is based on ground
wave propagation (signal not limited to ‘line of
sight’ ).
NDB also can be used as the Back-Up
system. For example, during no signal given
by the VHF Omni-directional Range (VOR)
system.
NDB system only requires low cost for their
maintenances.
NDB is still important for many small airports.
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Disadvantages of NDB

Limited Signal because of several factors

including:
 Interference Effect
 Thunderstorm Effect
 Mountain Effect
 Coastal Refractions

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Disadvantages of NDB

Interference Effect –interference occurs if an

ADF receives two or more signals radiated by
NDB.

Thunderstorm Effect – Thunderstorm have

very powerful discharges of static electricity that
can interrupt the NDB signal. Needle of ADF
indicator sometimes points toward the storm.

Mountain Effect – Mountain areas can cause

reflections and diffractions and lead to the error
direction reading by ADF.
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Disadvantages of NDB

Coastal Refractions– Also known as Shoreline

Effect . Ground wave travel in one direction
over land, but another direction over water
(refraction). This can cause error reading in ADF
indicator.

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Accuracy

The accuracy of NDB is +/- 5 degree for

approach and +/- 10 for en-route.

The accuracy of an NDB at any given time

is difficult to determine when considering
all the factors creating error.

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Recap

List out and define ADF & the NDB

equipment
Explain how ADF/NDB works

What are the advantages of ADF/NDB

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Praise be to Allah

ADF & NDB