What does ADF stand for, and what does it indicate?

What does ADF stand for, and what does it indicate?

• A. Automatic Direction Finder; direction to NDB.
• B. Aircraft Diagnostic Finder; distance to DME.
• C. Automatic Direction Facility; altitude information.
• D. Automatic Direction Finder; direction to VOR.

Answer: (A)

ADF stands for Automatic Direction Finder, and it indicates the direction to a ground-based non-directional beacon. The instrument uses a loop antenna to sense the NDB signal and shows the relative bearing from your aircraft to that beacon. The needle points toward the beacon, so you fly in that direction to intercept or reach it. It does not tell you distance or altitude, only where the beacon is located relative to your present track. This is different from VOR/DME navigation, which provides different kinds of azimuth and range information.

ADF stands for Automatic Direction Finder, and it indicates the direction to a ground-based non-directional beacon. The instrument uses a loop antenna to sense the NDB signal and shows the relative bearing from your aircraft to that beacon. The needle points toward the beacon, so you fly in that direction to intercept or reach it. It does not tell you distance or altitude, only where the beacon is located relative to your present track. This is different from VOR/DME navigation, which provides different kinds of azimuth and range information.