The gni NDB is not sufficiently precise and is approved for the DC9 route. The needle was centered perfectly at 200 mi when center said the reporter was 20 mi off course.

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Attributes
ACN	322460
Time
Date	199512
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gni
State Reference	LA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhu
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other ndb
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	322460
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While navigating on gni NDB over 200 mi south of beacon, center noticed we were 20 mi west of course. All indications in cockpit were perfectly centered and indicating on course. The accuracy of NDB is not sufficiently accurate for navigation. This route of flight was approved for navigation of DC9 with only NDB capability. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the 20 mi off course was not unusual and center was not complaining. Over water the reporter is under the impression that 50 mi is the limit. This route was from cancun to memphis. The route from miami to cancun at times has no radio aid. That route uses key west VOR which is weak. This ambiguity could involve cuban airspace which he worries about. The only problem he has had however is when he has to deviate around WX and then wants to get back on course. He has to use time to attempt to approximate the planned track. His suggestion is that GPS would solve the problem and should be used like yesterday.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THE GNI NDB IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY PRECISE AND IS APPROVED FOR THE DC9 RTE. THE NEEDLE WAS CTRED PERFECTLY AT 200 MI WHEN CTR SAID THE RPTR WAS 20 MI OFF COURSE.

Narrative: WHILE NAVING ON GNI NDB OVER 200 MI S OF BEACON, CTR NOTICED WE WERE 20 MI W OF COURSE. ALL INDICATIONS IN COCKPIT WERE PERFECTLY CTRED AND INDICATING ON COURSE. THE ACCURACY OF NDB IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY ACCURATE FOR NAV. THIS RTE OF FLT WAS APPROVED FOR NAV OF DC9 WITH ONLY NDB CAPABILITY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE 20 MI OFF COURSE WAS NOT UNUSUAL AND CTR WAS NOT COMPLAINING. OVER WATER THE RPTR IS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT 50 MI IS THE LIMIT. THIS RTE WAS FROM CANCUN TO MEMPHIS. THE RTE FROM MIAMI TO CANCUN AT TIMES HAS NO RADIO AID. THAT RTE USES KEY WEST VOR WHICH IS WEAK. THIS AMBIGUITY COULD INVOLVE CUBAN AIRSPACE WHICH HE WORRIES ABOUT. THE ONLY PROB HE HAS HAD HOWEVER IS WHEN HE HAS TO DEVIATE AROUND WX AND THEN WANTS TO GET BACK ON COURSE. HE HAS TO USE TIME TO ATTEMPT TO APPROXIMATE THE PLANNED TRACK. HIS SUGGESTION IS THAT GPS WOULD SOLVE THE PROB AND SHOULD BE USED LIKE YESTERDAY.

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.