[Hallicrafters] NDB

[Robert Nickels]

On 1/12/2010 11:25 AM, rbethman wrote:
> In 2005, the FAA considered closing/decommissioning 479 NDB
> "procedures", (approaches).  They ended up closing/decommissioning 216
> of them.  However, NO NDBs were turned off.

Good.  I can't see what the rush is to turn off the NDBs after more 
sophisticated nav aids are installed.   The new transmitters are cheap 
to operate and virtually maintenance-free.  On a related note, I read 
this morning that The Coast Guard says they're not needed for maritime 
navigation and Homeland Security has determined that they're not needed 
as a back-up to GPS and "continued public investment in the LORAN-C 
program is not in the national best interest".  Decommissioning the 
sytstem will start next month, saving $36 million in 2010.

Granted, maintaining Loran C is a lot more expensive than keeping a 
bunch of 25 watt NDBs on the air, but realistically will the back-up 
system be - Rand-McNally?    Seems to me that the national interest is 
served by having back-up systems, and more than one of them.

73, Bob W9RAN