Pilot/Controller Glossary
AUTOMATIC DIRECTION FINDER
This reproduces published FAA reference text for study. It does not replace the current official FAA publication or regulation.
An aircraft radio navigation system which senses and indicates the direction to a L/MF nondirectional radio beacon (NDB) ground transmitter. Direction is indicated to the pilot as a magnetic bearing or as a relative bearing to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft depending on the type of indicator installed in the aircraft. In certain applications, such as military, ADF operations may be based on airborne and ground transmitters in the VHF/UHF frequency spectrum.
Retrieved from ecfr.gov on July 18, 2026.