Homing
Homing is the procedure of flying directly toward a radio station by continuously turning to maintain a zero relative bearing — that is, keeping the ADF needle pointed to the 0° (nose) position. While homing will eventually lead the aircraft to the station, it does not result in a straight ground track in a crosswind.
Homing vs. Tracking
- Homing: Keep the needle at 0° — fly toward the station. In a crosswind, the aircraft follows a curved path (the nose always points at the station but the track curves downwind of the direct route). Simple but inefficient.
- Tracking: Apply a wind correction angle to maintain a straight track to the station. The ADF needle points left or right of 0° by the WCA amount. More accurate and efficient.
When Homing Is Useful
Homing is acceptable for rough initial orientation when a station is first identified. For precise NDB navigation, tracking with a wind correction angle should be used. The difference between homing and tracking is regularly tested on PPL and CPL written exams.