VHF OMNIDIRECTIONAL RANGE

VOR

GROUND BASED EQUIPMENT

Rotating antenna transmits a directional signal. (rotates at 30 rps) Stationary antenna transmits reference pulse each time the rotating antenna passes through magnetic north. (true north in areas of compass unreliability.) The aircraft set measures the phase difference between the reference signal and rotating signal resulting in accurate track information. (radials)

AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT
Receiver
Receive VOR and ILS transmitters.

Control Head Indicator

Course Deviation Indicator (CDI) Radio Magnetic Indicator (RMI) Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI)

Antenna usually on vertical stabilizer.

OPERATION
The desired frequency is tuned. The OBS knob ( omni bearing selector) sets reference direction on the CDI, or the track needle on an HSI. The station is identified. The CDI needle or track bar (HSI) shows deviation from selected course. Each VOR instrument incorporates a TO/FROM indicator. This is a TO/FROM window on a CDI and an arrow on a HSI. The TO/FROM indicator simply displays direction to station. Signal warning flags are incorporated so frequency monitoring is unnecessary.

TESTING
VOT: VOR Receiver Test Facility:
Transmits a 360 radial on all azimuths of an assigned frequency. Tune VOT frequency. Set 360 on CDI. Confirm needle centered with FROM flag. Rotate OBS 5 either side and confirm half scale deflection, 10 for full scale. Set 180 on CDI. Confirm needle centered with TO flag. Must be accurate within 4.

 VOR Check Point:

Signs indicate a location on the aerodrome maneuvering surface where receiver may be accurately checked against the published radial. Tune VOR frequency. Identify. Set published radial on CDI. Confirm needle centered. Check needle sensitivity by changing OBS 10 each way. Set reciprocal of radial, and check TO-FROM flag change. Must be accurate within 4

 Compare two VOR receivers:

The accuracy of the receivers may be checked against each other in the absence of the previous check facilities. Tune both receivers to the same VOR frequency. Identify on both. Center both CDI needles. Check needle sensitivity. Must be accurate within 4

 Airborne VOR Check:

Receiver may be checked on a published radial over a fix or landmark. Tune VOR frequency. Identify. Confirm position. Center CDI needle. Check needle sensitivity. Must be accurate within 6

RANGE
The VHF signals associated with VORs are propagated through line-of-sight. Approximate range can be calculated by using the formula 1.23AGL. The need for a ground based station within line-of-sight range makes transoceanic VOR navigation impractical.

LIMITATIONS
Range: limited by line-of-sight. Terrain: VORs are sensitive to the interference of terrain. The placement of VOR ground stations takes this into account in most cases, but is not always possible. Published airways are designed to avoid any unusable quadrants, however care must be taken when navigating off airways.

ACCURACY
Published VOR radials are accurate within 3. Unpublished radials are not subject to this standard. Any site specific anomalies will be published in the CFS. The accuracy of VOR equipment is relative to distance from the ground station. A one dot CDI needle deflection at 1nm indicates a course deviation of 200 feet; a one dot CDI needle deflection at 30nm indicates a course deviation of 1 mile. (1 in 60 rule) If you attempt to fix your position using two VOR radials at an appreciable distance form the station and account for the allowable 4 receiver error the accuracy is greatly undermined. Adding accurate distance information reduces this inaccuracy. (DME)