Narrative:

Approaching the dixon NDB, we received faulty bearing to the station. We were to join J174 after diw. Approximately 20 mi south, I asked ZDC for a heading to join the airway south of orf. This request was denied, as was our request for direct. To continue to fly J174 off the diw NDB required a 40 degree turn to the west. After this maneuver, we were directed back to a 040 degree heading, and an air carrier aircraft was turned to the west. Factors to event: diw is a poor NAVAID. GPS is not installed on these aircraft. I did not ensure my request to ATC was clearly understood.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 CREW HAS DIFFICULTY USING AN NDB IN THE HIGH ALT STRUCTURE FOR NAV WHEN SIGNAL IS WEAK. TFC CONFLICT WAS THE RESULT.

Narrative: APCHING THE DIXON NDB, WE RECEIVED FAULTY BEARING TO THE STATION. WE WERE TO JOIN J174 AFTER DIW. APPROX 20 MI S, I ASKED ZDC FOR A HDG TO JOIN THE AIRWAY S OF ORF. THIS REQUEST WAS DENIED, AS WAS OUR REQUEST FOR DIRECT. TO CONTINUE TO FLY J174 OFF THE DIW NDB REQUIRED A 40 DEG TURN TO THE W. AFTER THIS MANEUVER, WE WERE DIRECTED BACK TO A 040 DEG HDG, AND AN ACR ACFT WAS TURNED TO THE W. FACTORS TO EVENT: DIW IS A POOR NAVAID. GPS IS NOT INSTALLED ON THESE ACFT. I DID NOT ENSURE MY REQUEST TO ATC WAS CLRLY UNDERSTOOD.

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.