Radio Navigation:

use of ADF

IFR Briefing I4

V2.0
Content – I4

 Objectives
 Introduction
 Airborne equipment (G1000)
 Using ADF and positional awareness
 Tracking
 Interceptions
 Exercises
 Airmanship
 Common errors
Content – I4

 Objectives
 Introduction
 Airborne equipment (G1000)
 Using ADF and positional awareness
 Tracking
 Interceptions
 Exercises
 Airmanship
 Common errors
Objectives

• How to use the onboard ADF equipment.

• How to determine your position by use of a NDB.
• How to intercept and track a QDM or QDR.
• How is the wind affecting your interception and tracking.
Content – I4

 Objectives
 Introduction
 Airborne equipment (G1000)
 Using ADF and positional awareness
 Tracking
 Interceptions
 Exercises
 Airmanship
 Common errors
Introduction
 • NDB beacon
• NDB = Non-Directional Beacon
• Frequency range: 190 – 1750 kHz (LF – MF)
• Range: up to 60NM (NDB), 25NM (locator)
• Cone of confusion: overhead the beacon, the higher the wider
• Identification: 2 or 3 letter mores code
• Signal subject to night, sea and mountain
effect, static interference (rain, lightning)
Content – I4

 Objectives
 Introduction
 Airborne equipment (G1000)
 Using ADF and positional awareness
 Tracking
 Interceptions
 Exercises
 Airmanship
 Common errors
Airborne equipment (G1000)
 • Automatic Direction Finding
• 1 ADF receiver
• 2 bearing pointers on HSI (moving compass rose)
− Single and double needle
− Both can be set for ADF
− Normally we use BRG 2 for ADF!
Airborne equipment (G1000)
 • Automatic Direction Finding
• Dip Error (banking):
− When rolling into turn, needle dips to the side of the
low wing
− The needle “leads” into the turn by up to 15°
− Indication ONLY accurate with WINGS LEVEL
• No warning system in case of system failure or loss of
signal.
When using ADF as primary navaid, ident must be on!
Content – I4

 Objectives
 Introduction
 Airborne equipment (G1000)
 Using ADF and positional awareness
 Tracking
 Interceptions
 Exercises
 Airmanship
 Common errors
Using ADF and positional awareness
 • Using the ADF
• Standard work method: TISD

Tune tune the frequency

identify beacon, verify morse code

Identify with chart

Set Set the bearing 2 indicator on ADF

DME not applicable

Using ADF and positional awareness
 • Positional awareness

STANDARD WORKMETHOD

ALWAYS VISUALIZE !

step 1 Station in the middle

Aircraft on the tail of the Bearing Pointer

step 2 tail = QDR ≈ radial
Needle indicates bearing TO the station
step 3 head = QDM
Using ADF and positional awareness
 • Positional awareness
• Current position QDR090, HDG 240, proceeding to intercept QDM300.
Content – I4

 Objectives
 Introduction
 Airborne equipment (G1000)
 Using ADF and positional awareness
 Tracking
 Interceptions
 Exercises
 Airmanship
 Common errors
Tracking
 • General
• Tracking = keeping the aircraft accurately on an inbound or outbound
course.
• Fly a specific wind corrected heading that will keep you on your track.
• Even with a correct drift correction, course deviations possible:
− varying winds
− bends in electronic track.
Tracking
 • Tracking to the station
• “Track QDM 140° FFZ NDB” ≈ track course 140°, radial 320° inbound.
Tracking
 • Tracking from the station
• “Track QDR 250° FFZ NDB” ≈ track course 250°, radial 250° outbound.
Tracking
 • Workmethod

STANDARD WORKMETHOD

step 1 Estimate and fly a heading corrected for drift

step 2 Detect any course deviation

step 3 Make a heading change to regain course

step 4 Apply an adapted drift correction

Back to step 2
Tracking
 • Step 1 Estimate and fly a heading corrected for drift.

• Drift correction = XWC/SN

• Use wind vector (G1000)
• Set HDG bug on the wind corrected heading.
• Fly accurately in middle of HDG bug.
Estimated wind
corrected heading?
(100KIAS)
Tracking
 • Step 2 Detect any course deviation.

• Even if just 1° off course, make a correction

• The earlier you correct, the smaller the corrections required

 • Step 3 Make a heading change to regain course.

Corrections to be applied Inbound / outbound tracking

take half of the present drift

Good side (upwind of track)
correction

Bad side (downwind of track) 3x brg error on the present HDG

Tracking
WIND
 • Step 2 + 3

04 D M
5°
Q
Starting tracking
QDM = 045°
Est. Drift = 5° right Course deviation = 4° right
Magn. hdg = 040° QDM = 041°
New heading = ?
Tracking
WIND
 • Step 2 + 3

04 D M
5°
Q
Starting tracking
QDM = 045°
Est. Drift = 5° right Course deviation = 4° right
Magn. hdg = 040° QDM = 041°
New heading = 040° - 12°
= 28°
Tracking
WIND
 • Step 2 + 3

04 D M
5°
Q
On track
QDM = 045°

Starting tracking
QDM = 045°
Est. Drift = 5° right Course deviation = 4° right
Magn. hdg = 040° QDM = 041°
New heading = 040° - 12°
= 28°
Tracking
 • Step 4 Apply an adapted drift correction.

• Reset HDG bug to a new wind corrected HDG

• If drifted downwind (upwind), increase (decrease) drift
correction
• Go back to step 2
Tracking
WIND
 • Step 4

04 D M
5°
Q
On track
QDM = 045°
Magn. heading = 035°

Starting tracking
QDM = 045°
Est. Drift = 5° right Course deviation = 4° right
Magn. hdg = 040° QDM = 041°
New heading = 040° - 12°
= 28°
Tracking Course deviation = 2° left
QDM = 047°
WIND New heading = ?
 • Back to step 2

04 D M
5°
Q
On track
QDM = 045°
Magn. heading = 035°

Starting tracking
QDM = 045°
Est. Drift = 5° right Course deviation = 4° right
Magn. hdg = 040° QDM = 041°
New heading = 040° - 12°
= 28°
Tracking Course deviation = 2° left
QDM = 047°
WIND New heading = 040°
 • Back to step 2

04 D M
5°
Q
On track
QDM = 045°
Magn. heading = 035°

Starting tracking
QDM = 045°
Est. Drift = 5° right Course deviation = 4° right
Magn. hdg = 040° QDM = 041°
New heading = 040° - 12°
= 28°
Tracking

04 D M
Course deviation = 2° left

5°
QDM = 047°
WIND

Q
New heading = 040°
 • Back to step 2

On track
QDM = 045°
Magn. heading = 035° On track
QDM = 045°
Magn. heading = 037°

Starting tracking
QDM = 045°
Est. Drift = 5° right Course deviation = 4° right
Magn. hdg = 040° QDM = 041°
New heading = 040° - 12°
= 28°
Tracking
 • To remember
• Needle is NOT correct when in a turn.
Workmethod:
− Wings level – check needle
− correct or maintain heading
− wings level – check needle …

• Tracking is NOT chasing needles

− Tracking is flying a precise heading, corrected for wind!
− Be wind minded! Think twice!
Tracking
 • Homing
• A common error is to apply only a single correction after
drifting to the bad side, leading to homing instead of
tracking.

Homing: Flight toward a NAVAID,

without correcting for wind, by
adjusting the aircraft heading to
maintain a relative bearing of zero
degrees.
Tracking
 • Homing

QDM 314°
Magn. hdg. 309°
(single correction)

QDM 317°
Est. drift 5°
Magn. hdg. 312°
Tracking
 • station passage
• Cone of confusion / silence:
− needle becomes unstable
− needle sweeps
• MAINTAIN YOUR AVERAGE HEADING! DON’T CHASE THE
NEEDLE!


Content – I4

 Objectives
 Introduction
 Airborne equipment (G1000)
 Using ADF and positional awareness
 Tracking
 Interceptions
 Exercises
 Airmanship
 Common errors
Interceptions
 • General
• Position the aircraft on a required QDM or QDR.
• Switching from one QDM / QDR to another.
Interceptions – Initial heading
 • General
• Figure out initial interception heading
• Always visualize, don’t use tricks.
• Draw the track we have to fly for the interception on the
HSI.
STANDARD WORKMETHOD

step 1 Where am I, where do I go to?

step 2 How do we get there?

step 3 Apply basic rules inbound/outbound

Interceptions – Initial heading
 • Inbound – inbound interception
• Intercept QDM 330°.
Interceptions – Initial heading
 • Inbound – inbound interception
• Intercept QDM 260°.

n d if f er e n ce
Whe c t u a l&
n a
betwee 6 0 ° - 90°
d =
require
Interceptions – Initial heading
 • Outbound – outbound interception
• Intercept QDR 300°.
Interceptions – Initial heading
 • Outbound – inbound interception
• Intercept QDM 090°.
Interceptions – Initial heading
 • Inbound – outbound interception
• Also valid for outbound interception close to the station.
• Intercept QDR 120°.
Interceptions – Initial heading
 • Summary

Interception Attack

Inbound 30° on ACTUAL

Inbound (60°-90° difference

90° on REQUIRED
between bearing and course)

Outbound 45° on REQUIRED

1/3 of difference between actual

Outbound close to the station and required (max 45°) on
REQUIRED
Interceptions – Wind
 • Be wind minded
• Intercept QDM 330°. Wind 100/20.

wind
Interceptions – Wind
 • Be wind minded
• Intercept QDR 300°. Wind 180/20.

wind
Interceptions – Wind
 • Be wind minded
• Intercept QDM 090°. Wind 180/20.

ind
w
Interceptions – Wind
 • Be wind minded
• Intercept QDR 120°. Wind 030/20.

wi
nd

Avoid
overshoot !!!
Interceptions – When to turn?
 • Variables
• When we are on the interception heading, the turn away
from initial heading depends on:
1. current attack,
2. (estimated) distance to/from the beacon,
3. airspeed,
4. wind.
• Avoid overshooting required QDM / QDR!
• Interception is done with rate one, but you can adapt bank
angle.
 
Interceptions – When to turn?
 • Current attack
• On an inbound interception, use common sense to
decrease the attack.
• Example: Intercept QDM 260°.

ACT – REQ is decreasing,

you can decrease the
attack to 30° on present
ACT
Interceptions – When to turn?
 • Current attack
• On an inbound interception, use common sense to
decrease the attack.
• Example: Intercept QDM 260°.
Interceptions – When to turn?

 • (Estimated) distance to/from the beacon

• When closer to the beacon, needle more sensitive

 • Airspeed
• The higher the airspeed, the earlier the turn must be
started.
Interceptions – When to turn?

 • Wind
• Be wind minded:
− Is the wind pushing you towards the QDM / QDR or
away from the QDM / QDR?
− Start the interception earlier or later in function of the
wind.
− Turn to a wind corrected heading, THINK TWICE!
 Drift correction = XWC/SN
 Start with tracking
Content – I4

 Objectives
 Introduction
 Airborne equipment (G1000)
 Using ADF and positional awareness
 Tracking
 Interceptions
 Exercises
 Airmanship
 Common errors
Exercises
 • Introduction
• “Chairflying”
• Make a lot of exercises at home.
• Draw the visualization, work on flight simulator.
• Time permitting, make classroom exercises.
Exercises
 • Exercise 1
• Intercept QDM 220°
Exercises
 • Exercise 2
• Intercept QDM 140.
Exercises
 • Exercise 3
• After station passage, intercept QDR 180°.
Exercises
 • Exercise 4
• Intercept QDM 130°.
Exercises
 • Exercise 5
• Intercept QDR 250°.
Exercises
 • Exercise 6
• Intercept QDM 190°.
Exercises
 • Exercise 7
• Intercept QDM 240°.
Exercises
 • Exercise 8
• After station passage, intercept QDR 350°.
Exercises
 • Exercise 9
• From present position, intercept QDR 200°.
Exercises
 • Exercise 10
• From present position, intercept QDM 280°.
Exercises
 • Exercise 11
• From present position, intercept QDM 180°.
Content – I4

 Objectives
 Introduction
 Airborne equipment (G1000)
 Using ADF and positional awareness
 Tracking
 Interceptions
 Exercises
 Airmanship
 Common errors
Airmanship

 Be wind minded
• Initial interception HDG
• When to start intercept
• Drift correction
• “Think twice”
 TISD
• Identify
• Use double needle bearing pointer
 VISUALIZE!
• Practice drawings of visualizations at home & use FS
 Leave ident on if ADF used as primary navaid
Content – I4

 Objectives
 Introduction
 Airborne equipment (G1000)
 Using ADF and positional awareness
 Tracking
 Interceptions
 Exercises
 Airmanship
 Common errors
Common errors

 Not identifying the station

 Checking the bearing indication when wings are not level
 Interceptions
− Not visualizing, using memo technical aids - wrong
interceptions, loss of positional awareness.
− Starting the interception turn late, not taking wind in scan.
− Rolling out without drift correction
 
Common errors
 Tracking
− Close to the beacon: too big corrections or corrections
which are maintained to long - overshooting track
− Waiting too long before correcting (especially on inbound
tracking)
 Start correcting if just one degree off !!!
 Make quick correction
 QDM tracking is the most under-estimated IFR exercise
− No drift correction on initial heading, leading quickly to
drifting to the bad side
− On bad side, not properly correcting - homing
− Station passage: chasing needle