After my so-so NDB performance the other day, I knew I needed some practice. So I started up FSX and got to work. I put in about an hour of practice tonight and it seemed to help drill the NDB intercept procedures through my thick skull, so I would consider it time (and money) well spent.
You might recall that in an earlier blog entry I mentioned that I had bought and read Bruce Williams’ book, MS Flight Simulator as a training aid. The great thing about Bruce’s book is the companion CD that comes with it, which contains many VFR and IFR practice flights, several of which are aimed at NDB procedures. The practice flights make it easy as everything is set-up for you which in this case means you are in the air and in the proximity of an NDB, without the need to takeoff from an airport and fly to an NDB. This is a huge time saver, and really allows you to get right to practicing only what you want to practice. Sure, I could set-up my own flights in FSX, but I don’t have time for that.
While nothing replaces flying the real airplane, a sim (FSX) is perfect for things like practicing IFR procedures like VOR or NDB intercepts. And at today prices, it’s certainly a lot cheaper that burning avgas. The only downside to practicing at home, is the interruptions. The wife, the dog, the kid, all seem to want me to do something else the moment I sit down at the desk and launch FSX. Oh well, that’s what the pause button is for. 
