GPS on an NDB approach

[dasleben]

It's a nicer presentation, sure. But I don't necessarily find it to be safer at all, or less safe for that matter. Just different.

Nah man, NDB flown with LNAV/VNAV/autothrottles? It's a joke. No TDI/DHI nonsense, much better situational awareness. Jet flies itself on down while you monitor the raw data. GPS overlays on NDB approaches are much better for SA, as well.

 

[MikeD]

Nah man, NDB flown with LNAV/VNAV/autothrottles? It's a joke. No TDI/DHI nonsense, much better situational awareness. Jet flies itself on down while you monitor the raw data. GPS overlays on NDB approaches are much better for SA, as well.

Obviously the GPS is far newer technology, and sure, looking at a display gives some good SA on the GPS. But thats all icing on the cake to me. I can still get very good SA from an NDB, to the extent that Im never unsure of where I am on the approach, and really that's all I need to know to be comfortable. Anything more is a nice to have, not a need to have. Is it nice to have an overlay? Of course it is, as it's a help definitely...nothing wrong with that. Is it a need to have? Not at all. Thats why my whole premise here has been that if I have the equipment to fly the NDB, am trained to fly it, and know what Im doing with it; if there is any question of legality of doing an overlay, Im just going to do the NDB. I lose nothing in doing that, nothing that will be any kind of detriment to me.

 

[Autothrust Blue]

I'll do the most accurate, or the most efficient approach. NDBs aren't something that keeps me up all night, and no they aren't "unsafe," but what's safer? The NDB, or the NDB with the overlay? Or if you think they're equally safe (which is debatable, but in principle they should be both equally safe) which one if them is more accurate?

I've never said they were unsafe, and I don't think I've ever seen a thread where someone said NDBs were unsafe.

"Superior pilots use superior judgment and execute the RNAV so that they need not rely upon their superior skill to execute the NDB."