Narrative:

While navigating on BR1L using NDB for primary navigation, center advised us we were 28 mi left of centerline. We were in radar coverage at all times. I'm confused on why there was not an earlier call to us before we got 28 mi off course. As we navigated on BR1L from ghf, we used zqa to identify our progress on BR1L. All of the intxns up to burgo came and were within 2 or 3 DME. I felt at all times that I was on the airway. Burgo intersection I idented by the 127 degree bearing from bhf or the 139 degree bearing to gt and the 223 degree bearing of zls. The distance from bhf to burgo is 258 NM and from gt is 259. At best, this airway is marginal for precise navigation. At this distance each 1 degree of needle deflection equals 4.3 mi. I feel that navigation without INS or the like is questionable on this airway. I feel that navigation in this area could be improved by placing a VOR or other NDB's along the route or change the route to better use the existing beacons. I feel that ZMA cold have given us an earlier call to tell us of our excursion. In the future I will make more use of the map mode on the radar even though there are no distances to reference to for landmarks.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN AIR CARRIER MLG GOT 28 MI E OF COURSE WHILE NAVING WITH NDB ONLY IN THE CARIBBEAN.

Narrative: WHILE NAVING ON BR1L USING NDB FOR PRIMARY NAV, CTR ADVISED US WE WERE 28 MI L OF CTRLINE. WE WERE IN RADAR COVERAGE AT ALL TIMES. I'M CONFUSED ON WHY THERE WAS NOT AN EARLIER CALL TO US BEFORE WE GOT 28 MI OFF COURSE. AS WE NAVIGATED ON BR1L FROM GHF, WE USED ZQA TO IDENT OUR PROGRESS ON BR1L. ALL OF THE INTXNS UP TO BURGO CAME AND WERE WITHIN 2 OR 3 DME. I FELT AT ALL TIMES THAT I WAS ON THE AIRWAY. BURGO INTXN I IDENTED BY THE 127 DEG BEARING FROM BHF OR THE 139 DEG BEARING TO GT AND THE 223 DEG BEARING OF ZLS. THE DISTANCE FROM BHF TO BURGO IS 258 NM AND FROM GT IS 259. AT BEST, THIS AIRWAY IS MARGINAL FOR PRECISE NAV. AT THIS DISTANCE EACH 1 DEG OF NEEDLE DEFLECTION EQUALS 4.3 MI. I FEEL THAT NAV WITHOUT INS OR THE LIKE IS QUESTIONABLE ON THIS AIRWAY. I FEEL THAT NAV IN THIS AREA COULD BE IMPROVED BY PLACING A VOR OR OTHER NDB'S ALONG THE RTE OR CHANGE THE RTE TO BETTER USE THE EXISTING BEACONS. I FEEL THAT ZMA COLD HAVE GIVEN US AN EARLIER CALL TO TELL US OF OUR EXCURSION. IN THE FUTURE I WILL MAKE MORE USE OF THE MAP MODE ON THE RADAR EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE NO DISTANCES TO REF TO FOR LANDMARKS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.