Hello all,

I'm new here, I have a question about NDB approaches that I hope some of the experienced IFR-Flyers here can answer me.

Imagine the following NBD-only approach:

Landing runway 36 is orientated exactly 360 degrees.
NDB is off-field exactly south of the airport.
The approach is designed straight-forward like this:
From NDB(the IAF) follow 180 bearing outbound(the usual "remain within 10NM) ,do a procedure-turn and then track 360 bearing inbound and passing NDB outbound 360, to timed MAP./ successful landing.
The whole approach located in a valley orientated north-south
No Altitude given for the IAF, but once established 180 outbnd you may descend to 5.500ft.MSA (based on IAF) in all sectors 8500ft.

Now even if is not that realistic assume you arrive in the area at right angles to the NDB, in other words either on bearing 090 or 270 inbound.
Lets say 270 for example.

Now my question is:
How do you intercept the 180 bearing outbound in this case to begin the approach?Assuming you're flying a faster turbo-prop aircraft.

1.)Do you fly until NDB station passage occurs and then make a left
turn to heading 155 to re-intercept the 180bearing outbound?
2.)Or do you begin to intercept the 180 bearing already prior to reaching the NDB to avoid overshooting to the other side?And how would you know when to turn?Without GPS or DME reference, the indication that you're approaching the NDB would be increasing ADF needle oscillations.

Ok, looking forward to hear from you.Please I'm not that knowledgeable about IFR yet so take it easy on me.

Thanks

P.S.:

I tried to upload an approach chart image to better illustrate this, but for some reason I cannot attach it.
Neither is the "pictures&albums" option shown under user control panel.
Does anyone know how to make that work?

 

You lost me at NDB.

 

Placard INOP

 

I'm assuming the procedure turn would be a race track pattern..do it as if you're entering a hold until you get situated back inbound.

Also, if it's located in a north/south valley, I doubt they'd vector you from the east/west of the NDB

 

Divert to a field that has an ILS or declare an emergency. Where is it that only has ndb? South America?

 

In the US, as long as the course reversal is shown as a PT you can do anything you want on the PT side. If you're heading 270 and the PT is on the southwest side I'd just fly out heading 210 for a couple minutes and a left turn to join the 360 inbound. If it was on the southeast side rack it on around to 150. A whole lot less work than finding the 180 outbound, flying it a couple minutes, turn and turn and then find the 360 inbound. Start the outbound turn when the needle starts going crazy. Be configured at the NDB outbound. Even in a heavy 727 that'd be around 150 knots. I'm guessing a King air you could be down to 120 kts.

Or just load the FMS:
NBD
NBD210/7
NDB180/7
NDB
RWY36
and sit back and watch.

 

I wish that were true. KSOW has an NDB is the only ground based approach available and I believe it was NOTAM'd OTS for a while. Great Lakes & AMF operate there. There are still plenty of fields that use the dreaded NDB.

 

Ok guys,

thanks a lot for your answers, especially twin wasp.It makes more sense now to me.

Regards

 

we just line select it in the FMS and fly it as a an RNAV...

 

That sounds like a good training scenario to practice on the sim. Can you provide us an approach plate that comes close to the scenario?