GPS in... ADF out?
 

With just about every NDB approach being made into GPS approaches, is there really a need to keep the ADF radio/indicator in the cockpit if it's equipped with GPS, other than to listen to talk radio on a long night flight?

I bring this up because when concidering updating a jet cockpit with garmin equipment and XM, there is often only enough panel space if something, such as the ADF radio, is left out.

As long as the Garmin is an IFR approach approved box and it's an IFR installation, it can substitute for DME and ADF fixes.

The only problem with losing the ADF is that you will lose your AM radio tuner which has helped me out on many boring flights. You can replace it though with a garmin gps such as a 530 and get XM and it solves that problem.

Other than AM radio, an ADF is useless today.

The FAA is decommissioning NDB's anyway, so the ADF is probably not particularly relevant these days.

I don't have a current PTS, but I don't think you need an ADF for instrument training?

I agree that GPS is becoming more popular and in the US, ADFs are becoming irrelevant. However, there are a lot of aircraft that aren't GPS equipped. Additionally, when terrain is a factor, what happens when you don't have RAIM? This becomes more of a problem for DME/DME equipped GPS aircraft over the move expensive INS/GPS.

If you look overseas, I don't see ADF going away anytime soon. Not in my lifetime. When you fly in South America and Africa, you literally go back 30 years in aviation. When you fly in the former soviet states, a lot of those routes are ADF to ADF.

Correct... if it's installed, you may be asked to do an NDB approach, but if it's not installed, the no worries. One of my IFR students earlier this year took his checkride in his own airplane that only had 1 NAV radio and a GPS.

That's what I thought.....I just didn't know if there was some hidden reg that would require the ADF to remain installed for some reason. Thanks guys.

Also,

If you need to file an alternate, you need to have a working ADF on your airplane as well as a working NDB at your alternate. You cannot substitute in that case for filing purposes ;

The ground based nav has to be ground based nav.

The exception to the rule is if your GPS complies with TSO-145/146 ( WAAS ). Then you are looking at "stand alone" GPS.

Best,

You needn't have an ADF specifically:

http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publi...1/aim0101.html

Aircraft using GPS navigation equipment under IFR must be equipped with an approved and operational alternate means of navigation appropriate to the flight...

NOTE-
Any required alternate airport must have an approved instrument approach procedure other than GPS that is anticipated to be operational and available at the estimated time of arrival, and which the aircraft is equipped to fly.

I think this makes good sense. They say don't put all your eggs in one basket.

I have a tangential question though. It is my understanding that the AIM is not law, just strong suggestions. If I'm right, where does the FAR say that you need an alternate means of navigation etc?

Except for NDB approaches with no GPS overlay. That's the crux.