Final answer:
Non-Directional Beacons (NDBs) are ground-based radio transmitters in aviation that emit signals in all directions, used by aircraft to determine their bearing to the beacon. They operate at low to medium frequencies and can be received over long distances, but their signals can be affected by atmospheric conditions, terrain, and electrical storms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Characteristics of a Non-Directional Beacon (NDB)
A Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) is a ground-based radio transmitter used in aviation that transmits radio energy in all directions, allowing aircraft equipped with an Automatic Direction Finder (ADF) to determine their bearing relative to the beacon. This type of aid to navigation operates at a low to medium frequency band, between 190 kHz and 1750 kHz, and has several key characteristics:
- It transmits in all directions (non-directional).
- The signal can be received over long distances, especially at night or over water.
- NDB signals can be affected by atmospheric conditions, terrain, and electrical storms, which can cause signal bending or reflections leading to inaccuracies.
- They are simpler and less expensive than other navaids like VORs (VHF Omnidirectional Range) or DME (Distance Measuring Equipment).
Despite their limitations in terms of accuracy and susceptibility to disturbances, NDBs are valuable for long-range navigation and for approaches to airports, particularly in remote areas where more sophisticated systems may not be available.