The FAA today published a Notice containing the list of NDB approaches it is proposing to cancel. Based upon the public demand for WAAS capable RNAV procedures, the FAA “has identified NDB procedures for cancellation at runway ends that are also served by an RNAV procedure and a second ground-based procedure (i.e., a ground-based procedure other than the NDB).” The FAA would then devote the resources currently used to maintain these NDB procedures to the development of new WAAS capable RNAV procedures in the NAS.
From an economic efficiency standpoint, this Notice makes some sense. As long as suitable instrument approaches are still available at an airport I wouldn’t think this would cause too much of a problem. Especially in light of the proliferation of GPS avionics. I know that given the choice between flying an NDB approach or a GPS approach, I would fly the GPS approach any day. The more interesting question is whether the resources saved from the cancelled approaches will actually be used to expand the GPS/WAAS availability or whether this is in actuality just a budget cutting measure.
Comments to this Notice are due on or before April 4, 2005 and should be sent to the following mailing address: DOT/FAA Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, National Flight Procedures Office, PO Box 25082, Building 5 (ANF-1), Room 101, Oklahoma City, OK 73125 or physical address for overnight submissions as follows: DOT/FAA Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, National Flight Procedures Office, 6500 S. MacArthur, Building 5 (ANF-1), Room 101, Oklahoma City, OK 73169. Comments may also be sent via e-mail to debra.e.sullivan@faa.gov. You may also contact Ms. Sullivan fo
