Intercepting and flying QDMs and QDRs.

Peter Bremer
16 February 2007

To intercept
QDM
1) Use another compass
rose as a map, e.g. a
VOR indicator. Set QDM
or QDR at the top of the
rose.
The NDB is the middle.
The line from the bottom
of the rose to the NDB is
the QDM line to fly.
From this line we have
two times 4 sectors (left
and right):
0 30: sector 1
30 60: sector 2
60 90: sector 3
90 180: sector 4

Sector 1

Sector 4

Sector 3

Sector 2

3) Fly a reverse track

of QDM until abeam NDB.
4) Fly another two minutes
in same direction.
5) Fly a track perpendicular
towards the QDM until in
sector 1.

3) Fly a reverse track of

QDM until in sector 2 or 1
for a maximum of 2
minutes.
4) If still in sector 3 fly a
track perpendicular towards
the QDM until in sector 1

3) Fly a track perpendicular

towards the QDM until in
sector 1.

3) Intercept QDM at
45 intercept angle.

a) Position 120 Sector 4

b) Fly track 270 until abeam
c) Fly track 270 for another
two minutes.

a) Position 200 Sector 3

b) Fly track 270 until in
sector 2 or sector 1.

a) Position 220 Sector 2

b) Fly track 360 until in
sector 1. (position 240)

a) Position 250 Sector 1

b) Fly track 045 to intercept.

d) Fly track 360 until in

sector 1 (position 240).

c) If still in sector 3 fly track

360 until in sector 1
(position 240).

2) Determine current
sector with back of ADF
arrow.
Example:
Intercept QDM 090.
Initial heading 135.
Add wind corrections as
necessary.

To intercept
QDR
1) Use another compass
rose as a map, e.g. a
VOR indicator. Set QDR
or QDM at the top of the
rose.
The NDB is the middle.
The line from the NDB to
the top of the rose is the
QDR line to fly.
From this line we have
two times 2 sectors (left
and right):
0 90: sector 1
90 180: sector 2
2) Determine current
sector with ADF.
Example:
Intercept QDM 090.
Add wind corrections as
necessary.

Sector 2
3) Fly the same track as
QDR until abeam NDB, is
same as entering sector 1.

a) Position 240 Sector 2

b) Fly track until abeam
(position 180).

Sector 1
3) Intercept QDR at
45 intercept angle.

a) Position 150 Sector 1

b) b) Fly track 045 to
intercept.

To fly QDM

10 degrees left of track

heading 060

10 degrees right of track

heading 060

10 degrees left of track

heading 120

10 degrees right of track

heading 120

QDM 090
Here More
Steer More
Fly heading 110

QDM 090
Here Less
Steer Less
Fly heading 070

QDM 090
Here More
Steer More
Fly heading 110

QDM 090
Here Less
Steer Less
Fly heading 070

Arrowhead will fall

to QDM 090

Arrowhead will fall

to QDM 090

Arrowhead will fall

to QDM 090

Arrowhead will fall

to QDM 090

Here More, Steer More

Here Less, Steer Less
Steer a track,
which is
twice the distance of
the arrowhead
from the QDM.

Example:
Follow QDM 090.
No wind.
Wrong heading.
Off track sector 1.

To fly QDR

10 degrees left of track

heading 060

10 degrees right of track

heading 060

10 degrees left of track

heading 120

10 degrees right of track

heading 120

QDR 090
Steer Reverse
Fly heading 100

QDR 090
Steer Reverse
Fly heading 080

QDR 090
Steer Reverse
Fly heading 100

QDR 090
Steer Reverse
Fly heading 080

Arrowhead will fall;

Back of arrow will be pulled
to QDR 090

Arrowhead will fall;

Back of arrow will be pulled
to QDR 090

Arrowhead will fall;

Back of arrow will be pulled
to QDR 090

Arrowhead will fall;

Back of arrow will be pulled
to QDR 090

Steer Reverse.
Steer a track,
which mirrors the back
of the arrow in the
QDR.

Example:
Follow QDR 090.
No wind.
Wrong heading.
Off track sector 1.

To fly QDM
with
wind correction

5 degrees left of track

On track

5 degrees right of track

Here More
Steer More
Fly track 100
Fly heading 090

Fly track 090

Fly heading 080

Here Less
Steer Less
Fly track 080
Fly heading 070

Here More, Steer More

Here Less, Steer Less
Steer a track,
which is
twice the distance of
the arrowhead
from the QDM.
Example:
Follow QDM 090.
Wind correction:
10 degrees left.
Correct heading 080
Off track sector 1.

Compared to track 100

arrowhead will fall
to QDM 090

(Compared to track 080)

arrowhead will fall
to QDM 090

To fly QDR
with
wind correction

5 degrees left of track

On track

5 degrees right of track

Steer Reverse
Fly track 095
Fly heading 085

Fly track 090

Fly heading 080

Steer Reverse
Fly track 085
Fly heading 075

Steer Reverse.
Steer track,
which mirrors the back
of the arrow in the
QDR.

Example:
Follow QDR 090.
Wind correction:
10 degrees left.
Correct heading 080
Off track sector 1.

Compared to track 095

Arrowhead will fall;
Back of arrow will be pulled
to QDR 090

(Compared to track 085)

Arrowhead will fall;
Back of arrow will be pulled
to QDR 090