Are NDB's going out of fashion?

[Fozzer]

During one of my regular Sim Flights in California, and a popular stop for me; Lampson Field (1O2) near Clear Lake, I came across this little snippet of local news...

"LOP NDB Out of Service:

The Lampson Non Directional Beacon (LOP NDB) is Out of Service until further notice. The County reports that there are no plans to repair it."

http://lakecountyairmen.mymcn.org/oneoscartwo.htm

It currently appears on my Flight Simulator maps; frequency: 217.0....and I always use it.

As well as VOR Transmitters, I have always found NDB Transmitters to be extremely useful in radio navigation, and I wonder if they are still as popular for pilots today, as they were in the past?

Or are they gradually becoming obsolete, and replaced by GPS systems instead?

As Brett Henderson always states: "Every Outer Marker should be an NDB!"...Very useful!

The NDB at my local Airfield always guides me; "back home" after a flight.... ...!

I love NDB's... ...!

Paul...Long live the NDB!.... ...!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-directional_beacon

[1olehippy]

Hey Paul,

With GPS now standard in autos, boats, most airplanes and even my granny's walker....I'm afraid that NDBs are going the way of the "church key"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_key#Churchkey

Dave

[Fozzer]

Hey Paul,

With GPS now standard in autos, boats, most airplanes and even my granny's walker....I'm afraid that NDBs are going the way of the "church key"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_key#Churchkey

Dave

Ta for the heads-up, Dave... ...!

It still seem a shame (to me) that some of these useful Aircraft Radio Navigation aids are slowly disappearing!

I love plotting by flight course via various Radio Beacons!

Paul.....A rare beacon in the sky... ...!

[Splinter562]

That's standard practice in the US right now. They aren't actively decommissioning NDBs, they are just not fixing them when they break anymore.

[SaultFresh]

They're definitely a dying nav aid, and dying art form of tracking in North America at the very least. I know in the more remote, northern regions of North America (like Alaska, and northern parts of Canada and the Hudson's Bay/ James Bay region), it's still a way of life, but for many, it's a thing of the past. I'm pretty sure you have to pay extra for an ADF on a Cessna 172 these days. Canada changed their definition of standard equipment to exclude the ADF back in September of 2012.

[Fozzer]

..Blimey!... ...!

It seems like my usual practice of navigating by the Stars, is a dying practice now!

(....always a bit of a problem during the day)... ...!

Paul... ...!

I have yet to own/use a GPS navigation device, so far!...(new-fangled devices!)... ...!